| Without democratic institutions, what makes a government legitimate? As waves of democratization come and go, authoritarian regimes remain. There are numerous examples of long-lasting authoritarian regimes on the African continent, a fact that the literature on the three pillars of authoritarianism seeks to explain. A primary claim is that regimes are frequently relying less on coercion and more on legitimacy and cooptation to secure political stability. This reliance in turn requires specific tactics, including movement towards a mode of competitive authoritarian that allows greater participation by the populace.;This paper investigates the means by which the Ugandan government has sought to increase legitimacy in the face of growing political opposition, economic liberalization, globalization forces, and staggering poverty. The internal affairs and policies of the Museveni regime will be analyzed to understand how this particular regime has transformed itself into a competitive authoritarian regime in order to maintain power. Of specific interest are measures that put into place: economic and political decentralization, more democratic institutions, and a greater focus on the rule of law as articulated in the constitution.;This research will deepen our understanding of the strategies of the Ugandan regime, and in so doing, also the dynamics involved in political stability, legitimacy, and the hybrid regimes. |
