非洲風情：毛里裘斯─非洲民主實驗室（下）
- 2021年12月30日
- 讀畢需時 3 分鐘
已更新：2023年5月7日
非洲似乎與獨裁政治劃上等號，然而有兩個國家獨立以來就維持多黨制，包括博茨瓦納和毛里裘斯。其中1968年獨立的毛里裘斯，約七成人是南亞裔，其餘是帶有非洲血統的克里奧爾人、華人及法藉毛里求斯人。信奉印度教和伊斯蘭教，分別佔五成和兩成。
當時政治氣候處於紛亂狀態。脫離英法殖民前的選舉，演變成克里奧爾和穆斯林衝突。在國內經濟衰退背景下，獨立後的首次選舉，反對派毛里裘斯戰鬥運動勝出。為免出現政治動盪，政府決定取消相關選舉結果，同時宣布國家進入緊急狀態。
民主進程看似不穩，然而憲法保障下的包容性制度，則增強種族和宗教融合誘因。在「首三位領先者當選」原則下，全國廿二個選區，分別可選三名代表，鼓勵政客跨種族動員支持更多選票。信徒人數比例最多的印度教，一度嘗試壟斷選舉不果。
事實上，選舉委員會會分配其中八席，給予得票最多「優秀落敗者」，保障少數團體的代表性。國會投票採取比例代表制，進一步削弱政府的壟斷。國家首任總理西沃薩古爾・拉姆古蘭爵士，亦不分種族地改善社福制度，及促進印度教和法藉毛里求斯裔組成聯盟。
結果，當地政府由單一黨派連勝的局面，獨立以來只出現一次。毛里裘斯體制，突顯一種「協商民主」的形式。不同群體的權力和利益受到憲法保障，政權合法性會提高。透過協商形式和權力共享，促使當地更集中地制定經濟政策，又不失平衝各黨意見。
Mauritius - The Democratic Experiments in Africa (II)
Africa is not necessarily equivalent to dictatorship. Two countries have maintained multipartyism since independence, including Botswana and Mauritius.
In Mauritius, 70% of the population were South Asian, while the rest were Creole of African ancestry, Chinese and Franco-Mauritian. 50% were Hindu and 20% were Muslim.
The last colonial election descended into riots of Creoles and Muslims, due to the fragmented society. After the independence in 1968, the country suffered from economic decline.
Combined with the victory of the opposition Mauritian Militant Movement, the government surprisingly cancelled the result and declared a state of emergency.
Though Mauritius has an unstable foundation, the electoral system in fact eases ethnic and religious tensions. It encouraged politicians to mobilise support across party and ethnic lines.
Based on the first-three-past-the-post system, three representatives were elected from each 22 districts, while the island of Rodrigues elected two legislators.
The Electoral Supervisory Commission will allocate 8 seats to “best loser”, to ensure minority representation. The proportional system also reduced the possibility of majority.
The first PM Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam allocated public goods regardless of religion. He also facilitated the coalitions of Hindu and Franco-Mauritian leaders during the elections.
The consecutive victory of a single party happened only once since independence, which illustrates Mauritius political system with “consociational” democracy.
If the interests of various communities are well protected, the regime will be more legitimate and stable. This island transformed from low to upper income with a power-sharing system.
名稱：非洲民主：成功、失敗與政治改革的鬥爭 (暫譯) (Democracy in Africa: Successes, Failures, and the Struggle for Political Reform)
作者：Nic Cheeseman
年份：2015
出版地：美國
出版社：劍橋大學出版社
類別：非洲政治
評分：7/10
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