Understanding Electoral Politics in Solomon Islands

This paper discusses elections, electoral politics, and governance in Solomon Islands. It provides an overview of electoral politics and electoral process as well as a discussion of voter behaviour (why voters vote for the candidates they vote for). In covering voter behaviour the paper explains how the choices voters make contribute, amongst other factors, to Solomon Islands’ political problems. The paper argues that the central issue of Solomon Islands politics is the clientelist political dynamic that the country suffers under. While voters engage in clientelist politics quite reasonably, the political incentives associated with clientelism are at odds with a well-governed state. In its concluding section the paper assess the potential for, and potential causes of, political change in Solomon Islands. As it does this is looks at the implications for aid work, and the potential for aid to help.