O contrassenso entre a consolidação do Estado autoritário e a sua abertura nas reformas eleitorais em Moçambique (2002-2009)

Abstract

Electoral reforms have always demanded studies in political science, and their occurrence in competitive/electoral authoritarian regimes further reinforces this need. This monograph investigates the apparent contradiction between the consolidation of an authoritarian state in Mozambique and its openness in electoral reforms. The study questions whether this openness represented genuine progress in democratization or merely a strategy to legitimize the regime and maintain Frelimo's control over the electoral administration bodies. Employing a qualitative approach, combining bibliographic and documentary research with semi-structured interviews, using rational and historical neo-institutionalism along with public choice theory, it concludes that the electoral reforms in Mozambique, under Frelimo's leadership, were predominantly symbolic, representing superficial democratization. The inclusion of civil society, although creating an impression of openness and participation, was carefully planned to ensure that Frelimo maintained control over the electoral process.