THE INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT FOR NOMINATION OF WOMEN AS PARTY CANDIDATES FOR PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Abstract

Most members of Parliament including women were at first nominated by a particular political party as electoral candidates. Understanding the nomination process in political parties is therefore critical in the understanding of the low representation of women in parliament. This study is an institutional analysis of the context in which some women were able and others were unable to be nominated as party candidates for the United Democratic Front party in Malawi for the 2004 general elections. It is a qualitative exploration that seeks to find out whether and how the institutional context was different for successful and unsuccessful women in selected constituencies. The study particularly addresses the interaction of formal and informal institutions in the nomination processes. It is found that formal institutions for candidate nomination were unwritten and at times vague. This allowed powerful informal institutions to thrive and influence the outcome of the process. As a result of this the process would easily serve particular interests. On the overall, the institutions in operation were able to ensure that some women candidates succeed and other women candidates do not succeed.