No. 47 (2024): International authoritarian populism in Angola and Mozambique: the weight of history

This special issue of the journal Cadernos de Estudos Africanos examines the persistence of authoritarianism and the failure of democratic consolidation in Mozambique and Angola, despite the introduction of multiparty systems in the 1990s. As part of the research project “Pluralism – Democratization and Electoral Integrity in Angola and Mozambique” (P-DEIAM), the contributions show how former single parties retained power by adapting to electoral processes while subverting democratic norms. The articles explore how these regimes continue to reproduce hegemonic rule, aligning themselves with emerging global trends of illiberalism. The issue highlights the historical roots of authoritarian governance in both countries and the limited impact of liberal democratic pressures.