The starting point for this research is the disjuncture between the functions of elections predicated in democratic theory and the reality of electoral authoritarian regimes. Mainstream democratic theory views elections as the sine qua non, that is, the institutional mechanism through which the essence of democracy - self-rule of the people - is actualized. Contrastingly, the post-Cold War period has seen the emergence of political systems that mimic formal democratic institutions without embracing the substance of democracy. Their most salient characteristic is the existence of multiparty electoral competition while maintaining tight control over the political space and manipulating electoral processes in order to ensure political survival. With this in mind, this thesis seeks to determine whether the resumption of multiparty electoral politics in post-war Angola (2008-2017) is contributing to further democracy or sustain authoritarian rule. The discussion is conducted in the broader context of the third wave of democratization, transitional democracy and political transformations in post-Cold War Africa. Theoretically, the study is anchored in the liberal democratic tradition, theories of political participation, the third wave of democratization, electoral authoritarianism and Angolan experiences of transitions from war to peace and from a single-party Marxist-Leninist state to a multiparty democratic framework. Methodologically, the research made use of qualitative case study methods and descriptive data gathered from both primary and secondary sources. These were assessed through thematic content analysis and illustrative techniques. The analysis suggests that electoral politics in post-war Angola have ensured the reproduction and reinvention of a political elite that exercises power in an authoritarian manner.

Keywords: Post-war Angola, Electoral Politics, Elections, Democratization, Electoral Authoritarianism, Political Transitions.