ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. It explores many aspects of the phenomenon of contentious elections. The book then traces several of the core propositions which flow from the general theory can be tested against new sources of empirical evidence. It also employs social surveys in different countries, as well as drawing broader cross-national comparisons, to demonstrate the empirical evidence for the linkage mechanisms and building blocks underlying these relationships. The book analyzes many of the conditions associated with catalyzing and preventing electoral violence. It suggests that referendums are only partially successful in building the conditions for lasting peace and stability, although they are often held as part of the peace-building process, especially in cases of succession. Comparative research about democratization and electoral systems, among scholars of political institutions, has long been interested in determining the most effective constitutional arrangements and regulatory procedures designed to mitigate electoral conflict.
