Political
parties organize rallies during an election campaign in order to reinforce
links between political leaderships, party activists and party supporters.
Electoral rallies are also demonstrations of strength, unity and power.
In
conflict-prone societies where political divides often correspond with social
divides, election rallies may represent high-risk events. Irrespective of the
organizer’s intentions, the use of inflammatory rhetoric and hate speech can quickly
inspire violent action. Additionally, actions taken to limit, obstruct or
prevent competitors from holding political rallies may trigger violent
reactions.
Empirical cases:
- Azerbaijan
presidential election 2003. During the
election campaign period international observers recorded cases of opposition
candidates being denied venues for rallies. The local authorities in the
capital, Baku, for example, refused a popular opposition party leader, Isa
Gambar of the Musavat party, permission to hold a rally in a cinema. Hundreds
of supporters gathered outside the cinema to demonstrate against this decision,
de facto showing their support for the candidate. The police used violence to
disperse the demonstrators.[1]
Interrelated factors: poor
socio-economic conditions (external); problematic
accreditation of domestic observers (internal);[2]
human rights violation (external).[3]
- Nepal
parliamentary election 2008. In the
Tarai region the Nepali Congress held mass meetings. These were interrupted by opposing
political parties using threats of violence and bombings.[4]
Interrelated factors: presence of
non-state armed actors (external).[5]
