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  • Publisher:
    Cambridge University Press
    Publication date:
    05 May 2026
    25 June 2026
    ISBN:
    9781009850346
    9781009850322
    9781009850339
    Dimensions:
    (229 x 152 mm)
    Weight & Pages:
    0.576kg, 240 Pages
    Dimensions:
    (229 x 152 mm)
    Weight & Pages:
    0.418kg, 240 Pages
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    Book description

    Why do some electoral commissions earn public trust while others collapse under pressure? Why Elections Need Parties offers a sharp and timely exploration of how democracies succeed or stumble at the ballot box. Drawing on more than a decade of fieldwork, elite interviews, and archival research across Latin America and Africa, Alejandro Trelles uncovers the institutional and political forces that determine whether electoral management bodies (EMBs) gain real autonomy or become vulnerable to manipulation. Trelles develops a new theory of partisan inclusion to show how party engagement, transparency, and accountability can strengthen, rather than weaken, electoral governance. Through vivid country cases and rich comparative analysis, this book demonstrates how institutional design, consultation mechanisms, and administrative practice shape election quality and democratic resilience.

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