'Full of Sound and Fury': Three Decades of Parliamentary Politics in Mauritius

Abstract

Mauritius in 2000 held its seventh free election since independence, resulting in the third democratic transfer of power in its history. It is one of the most ethnically heterogeneous states in the world and its multi-party system is characterised by a bewildering kaleidoscope of parties, often constituted for little more than electoral purposes. Class politics also have their place, although attempts to substitute left-wing ideology for communalism have met with only indifferent success. Although there has been an increase in ethnic tension recently, the country has had only three prime ministers in 33 years, and its political culture remains robustly democratic. This article describes electoral politics since independence and demonstrates that, by virtue of their numbers, it also remains an inescapable fact that Indo-Mauritians will govern.