How do competitive elections in Africa affect ethnic versus national identity? This paper examines how political competition influences group loyalties, attitudes toward perceived discrimination, and social trust across Sub-Saharan Africa. Using survey data from seventeen countries over fourteen years, we analyze six rounds of data collected during election periods with varying levels of competitiveness.

### Key Findings

Ethnic Identity Increases During Elections

Researchers found that ethnic identification increases as national electoral competition intensifies in African nations.

Heightened Ethno-Political Tensions

This rise in ethnic identity is accompanied by increased perceptions of ethnically-motivated discrimination and amplified status anxieties closer to competitive elections.

Deteriorating Social Capital

Furthermore, the study observes declining levels of inter-ethnic trust and generalized social trust during periods of heightened electoral competition.

### Data & Methods

Six rounds of survey data from seventeen Sub-Saharan African countries collected over a fourteen-year period reveal temporal patterns related to election cycles.

This nuanced relationship demonstrates how political processes can shape societal cohesion, suggesting that electoral design must consider its potential impact on ethnic relations in multi-ethnic states.