GLD Malawi Member of Parliament Survey Dataset

Politicians running for parliament are influenced by, and rely on, many different actors in their bid for election. Studies of elections in the West explore what influences members of parliament (MPs) to run for office, highlighting the importance of party support. Yet, much less is known about support for candidates in the Global South. Studies that look at influences on the electoral process in these contexts tend to study voters’ choices, suggesting that ethnicity, religion and family connections may play a much greater role than partisanship. Is the same true with regard to politicians’ support? To what extent do political parties, or ethnic or religious communities, play a role in determining parliamentary candidates’ bids for office?