Abstract

This study sought to investigate factors behind persistent cases of electoral shifts in certain constituencies in Malawi. Specifically, the study examined the role of political sophistication and political disaffection. Studies in Europe and North America have shown that electoral shifts tend to occur among voters who are politically sophisticated and politically dissatisfied. Using qualitative methods of inquiry, the study sought to investigate the extent to which these observations could hold true for Malawi. The study was conducted in Nkhatabay South East constituency in the northern part of Malawi and it involved thirty purposively selected individuals. The generation of data was done through focus group interviews, key informant interviews, and documentary reviews. Data analysis was done manually and involved the use of both deductive and inductive approaches. The study findings showed that the majority of the respondents were politically sophisticated and politically dissatisfied. The results demonstrate the efficacy of political sophistication and political disaffection in explaining changes in electoral preferences among the investigated group. However, the study findings fall short of being generalisable because the study was basically an exploratory one and that it was confined to only one constituency. In addition, only few purposively selected respondents were involved in the study. A comprehensive study is, therefore, needed in order to have a broader understanding of vote switching in Malawi.

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School	: School of Law, Economics and Government
Issued Date	: 2021

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