Post-conflict democratisation in Sierra Leone : the role of the parliament

Abstract

Rebuilding political legitimacy after civil war and state collapse is a challenging task. This paper looks at the role of the Parliament of Sierra Leone in this process. The analysis is concerned with two key areas: descriptive representation of the electorate to build inclusive politics, and elite reconciliation as a means of making democracy the only game in town. Based on data from a survey among Members of Parliament (MPs) and additional qualitative interviews, it will be shown that political representatives are predominantly male, elderly, and highly educated. Using Social Network Analysis, the paper will demonstrate that social similarities, family networks, and networks formed in educational institutions provide the social glue that form Sierra Leone's MPs into an interconnected national elite cutting across party alignments and ethnic origins. While elite integration is positive for democratization, the underrepresentation of women, youth, and the poor presents future challenges to political inclusion.