Despite promising prospects to transition towards a democracy after attaining its independence in 1980, Zimbabwe somehow fell into authoritarian rule and became increasingly undemocratic compared to other countries in southern Africa. Therefore, this thesis seeks to understand why a “most likely” case of democratization in the region failed and instead slipped into authoritarianism between 1980 and 2000. The single case study investigates a set of elite level dynamics, using components of process tracing and case study techniques. The analysis is built upon a theoretical framework focusing on dimensions of power dynamics in terms of Bratton’s power capture, power division and power sharing along with Svolik’s politics of authoritarian rule and the dominant party system. The research indicates that the political party Zanu-Pf, under the leadership of Mugabe, has dominated the political arena since the first democratic elections of 1980. With the help of the party’s majority, the ruling elites captured, divided, shared and controlled power; to serve authoritarian ends that ensured regime survival at the expense of democracy.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:27:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Roberta Gebrin Guimaraes.pdf: 513947 bytes, checksum: 98bf6e660b0c8f466ed1d45304f6a624 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-05-28 / The aim of this paper is to analyze an important subject of the Brazilian Constitutional Law which consists in a process of legal provisions elaboration. Therefore we have made an over view from the Brazilian Legislative Power and its functions that is to legislate. We have started from checking the principles as a kind of provision to exam the beginning of the power division and its role in the Brazilian and international democracy political scenery. It is essential to study such division due to this principle is a premise State function and it is in addition connected with the legislative obligation of the State. So to examine it is capital to understand the Legislative Power and the process of provisional elaborations in this research. We have done an historical background of the Legislative Power by analyzing the evolutions of the Brazilian Parliament from its foundation until nowadays. For a better understanding of the matter we have mentioned the parliamentarian functions as well as its composition of the legal departments. We have investigated the different Brazilian legislative process stage reporting each type of provision and analyzing the participation of the Executive Power in the legal provisions. We also researched the intention to start the legislative process and the possibility of a constitutional amendment in a legislative proposal and verifying how both can reflect in the principal of the power division in the Federal Constitution. To sum up we have done a short investigation of the legislative process in the States, municipalities and Federal District checking their symmetry as a federal model and their relation with the power division. This paper does not intend to finish the discussion nevertheless establishes the basis from the Brazilian legislative process after five years of professional experience in the subject / O objetivo do presente trabalho é analisar um importante tema do Direito Constitucional brasileiro, que é o processo de elaboração das normas jurídicas. Para tanto, traçamos um panorama do Poder Legislativo pátrio e de sua função até então considerada como precípua: a de legislar. Começamos pela análise dos princípios como espécies de normas, a fim de examinarmos o princípio da divisão do poder e seu papel democrático no cenário político brasileiro e internacional. Isso se fez necessário, uma vez que tal princípio é premissa básica da distribuição das funções estatais, estando amplamente ligado à função legislativa do Estado e à forma do seu exercício. Logo, sua análise se torna imprescindível à compreensão do Poder Legislativo e do processo de elaboração normativa, assuntos nucleares desta pesquisa. Em seguida, partimos ao estudo do Poder Legislativo, o que começa por uma retrospectiva histórica, com o levantamento da evolução do Parlamento brasileiro, desde sua origem até os dias atuais. Nesse contexto, abordamos as características e funções parlamentares, bem como sua composição, órgãos e funcionamento. A partir de então, dedicamo-nos a investigar as diversas faces do processo legislativo brasileiro, explorando cada uma das espécies normativas por ele abrangidas e analisando a participação do Poder Executivo na formação das normas jurídicas. Examinamos, também, o poder de deflagrar o processo legislativo e a questão da possibilidade do oferecimento de emendas às propostas legislativas, verificando que ambos refletem a concepção do princípio da divisão do poder, adotado pela Lei Maior. Para complementar o trabalho, realizamos uma análise sucinta do processo legislativo nos Estados, Municípios e Distrito Federal, verificando sua simetria com o modelo federal e sua relação com o princípio da divisão do poder. Sem a pretensão de esgotar o tema, nossa meta foi traçar as bases do processo legislativo brasileiro, após cinco anos de atuação profissional voltada ao assunto