Join us for a talk with Dr. Ian Cooper, POLIS, and discussant Professor Laurie Nathan, University of Pretoria. Cooper’s recent paper asks: why do some succession crises in Africa lead to party fragmentation, whilst others do not? It involves comparative analysis of South Africa and Namibia, using original data gathered in the field. By describing the changing character of succession, developing a comparative approach to the study of these events and demonstrating a connection between autocratic leadership and party fragmentation, it makes a significant contribution to the democratisation literature.