International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) |Volume VI, Issue XI, November 2022|ISSN 2454-6186
Unveiling the Peril of Protest Votes: An Enlightenment to Guide Political Behavior in Liberia
Dr. Ambrues Monboe Nebo Sr.
African Methodist Episcopal University and University of Liberia, Liberia
Abstract: Considering the Liberian society as the contextual setting or background, this study interrogates protest votes as another form of political behavior. It employs the conceptual analysis approach categorized as one of the kinds of qualitative research methods. Using the frustration-aggression theory as its theoretical framework, the paper unveils the inherent peril or risk associated with protest votes unknown to registered voters. It sees protest votes as an emotional response due to the dissatisfaction with incumbent candidates to realize campaign promises. On the premise that frustration has the proclivity to affect logical reasoning, the paper equates dissatisfaction to frustration which has implications for protest votes. Based on this premise, which is empirical, the paper argues that evidenced by the clamor (“I am calling from the most abandoned district”, “2023 is coming”) ahead of the 2023 elections, the Liberian society might witness a cyclical or repeated phenomenon of previous election results prompting the increasing clamor.
The paper concludes whether the argument proffered herein is empirical or not, it does not take away the fact that protest vote is an emotional decision of voters’ dissatisfaction. As an emotional response influenced by frustration, it has the proclivity to affect their judgment during elections. For this reason, the paper cautions those making the clamor to be mindful because the frustration behind the inclination may result in illogical judgment. And finally, the paper clarifies that this caution is not in any clever or smart way to support and endorse the reelection of the incumbent leadership or candidates.
Keywords: Elections, Frustration-aggression theory, Liberian society, protest votes,
I. INTRODUCTION
The results of the 2014 special senatorial election proved beyond reasonable doubt that it was a gain for the opposition bloc (Congress for Democratic Change) evidenced by the inability of incumbent candidates especially from the ruling Unity party to retain their seats. History recalls only two incumbent Senators, Prince Y. Johnson from Nimba County, elected in 2005, and Jewel Howard Taylor of Bong County, retained their seats (Butty, 2014).
Similarly, in the 2017 Presidential election, incumbent Senator George Manneh Weah won 61.5 percent of the total vote and won 14 out of Liberia’s 15 counties. He overwhelmingly defeated Vice President Joseph Boakai representing the ruling Unity Party (VOA, 2017).
During the December 8, 2021, special senatorial election, the Liberian society witnessed similar political behavior evidenced by the majority of the winners from the opposition bloc unseating the incumbent candidates from the ruling Coalition