Political parties, political change and public policy in Africa

Party pluralism facilitates political parties in articulating the social and development policies they intend to pursue once in government. This chapter examines the role of political parties amidst regime change and the attendant influence on Africa’s public policy processes since the 1960s. For instance, it argues for a closer partnership between nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), interest groups and political parties on agenda-setting through collaborative lobbying, research and training. Where such efforts are already underway, mechanisms should be put in place to strengthen them. Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana are used given their varying party models that impact the policy process. The party system notwithstanding, political parties can provide avenues through which various interest groups aggregate “people’s” world views into the policy process.