How to Rig an Election

by Nic Cheeseman, Brian Klaas

Overview

An engrossing analysis of the pseudo-democratic methods employed by despots around the world to retain control
 
Contrary to what is commonly believed, authoritarian leaders who agree to hold elections are generally able to remain in power longer than autocrats who refuse to allow the populace to vote. In this engaging and provocative book, Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas expose the limitations of national elections as a means of promoting democratization, and reveal the six essential strategies that dictators use to undermine the electoral process in order to guarantee victory for themselves. Based on their firsthand experiences as election watchers and their hundreds of interviews with presidents, prime ministers, diplomats, election officials, and conspirators, Cheeseman and Klaas document instances of election rigging from Argentina to Zimbabwe, including notable examples from Brazil, India, Nigeria, Russia, and the United States—touching on the 2016 election. This eye-opening study offers a sobering overview of corrupted professional politics, while providing fertile intellectual ground for the development of new solutions for protecting democracy from authoritarian subversion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300235210
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	04/24/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Nic Cheeseman is professor of democracy at the University of Birmingham and founding editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia of African Politics. Brian Klaas is assistant professor of global politics at University College London and a weekly columnist for the Washington Post.

Table of Contents

Update: Five new strategies to rig an election - and ten ways to stop them vi

Introduction: How do you solve a problem like elections? 1

1 Invisible rigging: How to steal an election without getting caught 31

2 Buying hearts and minds: The art of electoral bribery 61

3 Divide and rule: Violence as a political strategy 93

4 Hack the election: Fake news and the digital frontier 125

5 Ballot-box stuffing: The last resort 157

6 Potemkin elections: How to fool the West 182

Conclusion: How to stop election rigging 207

Appendices 241

Endnotes 255

Further reading 299

Acknowledgements 301

Index 303

Editorial Reviews

Democracy is in a worldwide recession dating back at least a decade, as unscrupulous and powerful people successfully abuse every part of the electoral process. That is the depressing message of this lively book. . . . [Cheesman and Klaas’s] chirpy tone belies the thorough research and bleak message.”—Edward Lucas, Times (UK)

“Excellent.”—Richard Cockett, Literary Review

“In How to Rig an Election, Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas describe how—in contrast to historic autocrats who boosted their status by bumping off their opponents—modern ones do so by holding cosmetic, compromised elections; ‘by using the image of democracy to entrench authoritarian rule.’”—Eliane Glaser, Times Literary Supplement

“How to Rig an Election is not just a fascinating read, but offers opposition parties, civil society and voters precious tools to preempt the worst abuses.”—Michela Wrong, The Spectator (Books of the Year 2018)

“How to Rig an Election is a reader-friendly anatomy of electoral fraud and malpractice. . . . This work should elicit the applause and gratitude of democracy professionals worldwide for presenting these challenges to a broad audience in an accessible and persuasive manner. It should be read by policymakers, students and general audiences concerned with the state of democracy in the world today.”—Gabrielle Bardall, Democratization

“The book is full of remarkable stories from actual elections and some of them remain lodged in my mind. . . . You feel like you have read a collection of short stories with a potential to speak to a broad readership.”—Ivan Jarabinksky, Swiss Political Science Review

“Essential reading for everyone who wants to get democracy right again.”—A. C. Grayling, author of War

“Cheeseman and Klaas hit the nail on the head: in many countries elections are a sham. The problem is getting worse, while the international community connives at being deceived. The implications for public policy are profound and will take years to digest. An excellent book.”—Sir Paul Collier, author of Wars, Guns and Votes

“A concise, penetrating examination of why and how a growing number of governments are rigging elections, brimming with telling examples and practical recommendations for how concerned international actors can do more to help reverse this disturbing global trend.”—Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

“Rigging elections has become an art to which the most impressive array of resources are brought to bear even in the poorest countries. This work is a most timely addition to all who care about this important piece in the great democratic jigsaw on which so many basic freedoms depend.”—John Githongo

“Drawing on a rich evidence base, Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas explain why authoritarian leaders can get away with setting up counterfeit democracies, and how to put an end to this façade. This book adopts a novel approach and is clear, engaging, beautifully written, and utterly compelling. One of my favourite books of the year.”—Alice Evans, King’s College, London

From the Publisher

A timely wake-up call to the greatest political paradox of our time. Although more elections are being held than ever before, we are witnessing a worldwide undermining of democracy and democratic processes. This book reveals how elections are being rigged, why it matters and what we can do about it. A must read for anyone fighting for democratic governance and for the voices of citizens and ordinary people.”—Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, Oxfam International

Winnie Byanyima

A concise, penetrating examination of why and how a growing number of governments are rigging elections, brimming with telling examples and practical recommendations for how concerned international actors can do more to help reverse this disturbing global trend.”—Thomas Carothers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Thomas Carothers

"Rigging elections has become an art to which the most impressive array of resources are brought to bear even in the poorest countries. This work is a most timely addition to all who care about this important piece in the great democratic jigsaw on which so many basic freedoms depend."—John Githongo

John Githongo

As elections have become the norm worldwide, and a vital indicator of the strength of democracy, so too have the brazen and oft-underhanded attempts by autocrats to use the veneer of a seemingly credible poll to varnish their otherwise horrendous track records. Professor Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas offer an incisively sweeping view of this pressing global challenge, and importantly, how to counteract anti-democratic headwinds. This remarkably timely book is an indispensable addition to the desks and bookshelves of activists, academics and courageous pro-democracy crusaders worldwide.”— Jeffrey Smith, Executive Director, Vanguard Africa Foundation

Jeffrey Smith

"Drawing on a rich evidence base, Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas explain why authoritarian leaders can get away with setting up counterfeit democracies, and how to put an end to this façade. This book adopts a novel approach and is clear, engaging, beautifully written, and utterly compelling. One of my favourite books of the year."—Alice Evans, King’s College, London

Alice Evans

"Cheeseman and Klaas hit the nail on the head: in many countries elections are a sham. The problem is getting worse, while the international community connives at being deceived. The implications for public policy are profound and will take years to digest. An excellent book.”—Sir Paul Collier, author of Wars, Guns and Votes

Paul Collier

"Clear, punchy, and potentially revolutionary, How to Rig an Election should be read by every voter, civil society activist, opposition politician, election monitor,  journalist and diplomat who has ever come away from a voting booth or tallying  centre feeling angry, worried or frustrated."—Michela Wrong, author of It's Our Turn to Eat

Michela Wrong

Democracy is great, unless it can be undermined, manipulated and rigged. This eye-opening and important book is essential reading for everyone who wants to get democracy right again, so that it acts as it should: in the genuinely best interests of each and all.”—A.C. Grayling, author of War

A.C. Grayling

05/15/2018
Cheeseman (democracy & international development, Univ. of Birmingham, UK; Democracy in Africa) and Klaas (fellow in comparative politics, London Sch. of Economics; The Despot's Accomplice) explain that we are in the midst of a democratic recession. Despite an increased number of elections, the authors argue more countries are becoming authoritarian. They combine firsthand experience as election watchers, hundreds of interviews with relevant stakeholders, and use of a through bibliography to tell a global narrative of the various ways elections can be rigged, potential repercussions for the perpetrators, and solutions to detect and prevent such abuses of power. Building on cross-cultural political science works, such as Marc Morjé Howard's The Weakness of Civil Society in Post-Communist Europe, Cheeseman and Klaas coherently unify circumstances in diverse countries into a cohesive and compelling work on contemporary election rigging. Given the current political landscape, this book should attract broad readership among those interested in topics such as gerrymandering, fake news, and electoral bribery. VERDICT A highly relevant and realistic look into the waning strength of worldwide democracy through the lens of the election process.—Matt Gallagher, Univ. of the Sciences, Philadelphia

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