How to Rig an Election

May 15, 2018

Cheeseman (democracy & international development, Univ. of Birmingham, UK; Democracy in Africa) and Klaas (fellow in comparative politics, London Sch. of Economics; The Despot's Accomplice) explain that we are in the midst of a democratic recession. Despite an increased number of elections, the authors argue more countries are becoming authoritarian. They combine firsthand experience as election watchers, hundreds of interviews with relevant stakeholders, and use of a through bibliography to tell a global narrative of the various ways elections can be rigged, potential repercussions for the perpetrators, and solutions to detect and prevent such abuses of power. Building on cross-cultural political science works, such as Marc Morjé Howard's The Weakness of Civil Society in Post-Communist Europe, Cheeseman and Klaas coherently unify circumstances in diverse countries into a cohesive and compelling work on contemporary election rigging. Given the current political landscape, this book should attract broad readership among those interested in topics such as gerrymandering, fake news, and electoral bribery. VERDICT A highly relevant and realistic look into the waning strength of worldwide democracy through the lens of the election process.--Matt Gallagher, Univ. of the Sciences, Philadelphia

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