Rotation of Power

This book explores the often-overlooked democratic principle of "rotation of power".

It considers two key questions: What happens when power stops changing hands in a democracy and when incumbents manipulate the system to entrench themselves in office, can democracy survive?

Democracies are often celebrated for their ability to ensure accountability and renewal through the peaceful and unhindered alternation and transfer of power. Yet, they are not immune to a dangerous phenomenon: political self-entrenchment. This phenomenon occurs when incumbents, unilaterally or collectively, exploit the power of office to dominate the political arena, tilt the playing field, and distort democratic competition. Contributing to scholarly and judicial debates, this book offers a fresh perspective on this issue by focusing on the legal and political mechanisms to safeguard the rotation of power.