The electoral endeavour in post-conflict countries. Elections in Sudan: a stepping stone to conflict and violence or a milestone towards democratic transformation.

Abstract

An important issue of debate in contemporary foreign politics and academics is the tension between democracy and democratization. Whereas the democratic state system is generally considered desirable due to its peaceful nature, and hence is promoted and exported enthusiastically, time and again the process towards establishing a democracy (democratization) has proven to be marred by conflict and violence. Within this debate a special position is awarded to elections.

This research is set at this interface of peace and violence: the elections in Sudan. The elections were commissioned by the peace agreement in order to contribute to a durable and peaceful system of governance in the war-torn country. But from the start they entailed the dangers of a new eruption of conflict. The aim of this research is twofold: firstly, to use the case of the recent elections in Sudan to shed light on the academic debate concerning the relation between elections and violence. Secondly, to use the case of Sudan to analyse what various actors to the electoral process can do to ensure the peaceful conduct.