Mauritanian President Anerood Jugnauth recently resigned in order to rejoin party politics. In an email interview, Deborah Brautigam, a professor at American University, discussed the current state of governance and politics in Mauritius.
WPR: What is Mauritius' political culture like?
Deborah Brautigam: Domestic politics in Mauritius is partly driven by the recognition that the island country is politically, geographically and economically vulnerable. Recognizing that vulnerability, different coalitions of political leaders have been able to strike a delicate balance, combining astute policies that strive to position Mauritius strategically to catch the waves of globalization with social policies that keep the population from being swept under by these waves. It is rare for any of the main political parties to win enough seats in parliament to take charge of government, so they have to compromise and form coalitions. Sharing power makes for greater realism in policymaking.