CAS & Global Studies II: Studying Presidential Term Limits in Africa and Latin America

This course presents a research strategy developed by two GIGA researchers for the cross-regional study of presidential term limits. These are constitutional restrictions on the number of terms that the directly elected head of state may serve. Term limits have been frequently altered in these two regions over the last decades by using different institutional mechanisms. The goal of those changes has been, often but not always, to prolong the stay in power of powerful executives. What is the impact of such changes on the political regime? This course uncovers the research strategy. It involves the participants in the decisions taken on the definition of independent and dependent variables, case selection, and methodology. The pros and cons of such decisions will be assessed, with the hope that this example illuminates similar decisions on other projects.