Social protection, electoral competition, and political branding in Malawi

Sam Hamer and Jeremy Seekings

No wp-2017-99, WIDER Working Paper Series from World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER)

Abstract: Competitive elections in many parts of Africa generate powerful incentives to presidential candidates (and to a lesser extent political parties) to brand themselves in ways that transcend regional or ethnic loyalties. In Malawi, Joyce Banda—President from 2012 to 2014—sought to distinguish herself from her competitors by branding herself and her new People's Party as the champions of social protection for women, children, and the poor. Some of the conditions that favoured Banda's adoption of a social protection brand were specific to the political context in Malawi.

Keywords: Elections; Political branding; Social protection; Poverty alleviation; Joyce Banda; Malawi; Social spending (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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