On June 17, 2024, from 14:00 to 16:00, the Sub-Saharan African Studies Research Group of the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University hosted the third lecture of the 2023-2024 spring semester. The lecture, titled “Behind the Development Miracle: Consociational Democracy in Mauritius,” was delivered by Sheena Sookrajowa Sheetal, Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Mauritius, Chair of RC 14 - Politics and Ethnicity at the International Political Science Association, and Head of the Department of History and Political Science at the University of Mauritius. The event was moderated by Xiong Xinghan, Assistant Professor at the Institute for International and Area Studies, Tsinghua University. About 40 people attended the lecture, including IIAS faculty members and doctoral students, scholars and students from both home and abroad, and others interested in the topic.At the beginning of the lecture, Sheena Sheetal introduced the geographical location and basic social profile of Mauritius. She pointed out that Mauritius has maintained long-term stability, economic development, and democracy since its independence in 1968, with the exceptions of the 1968 ethnic riots and the 1999 inter-ethnic disturbances. Nevertheless, Mauritius still experiences the influence of ethnicity on electoral politics. The main aim of this lecture was to study the application of Arend Lijphart's elements of consociationalism in Mauritian society using documentary analysis.

The second part of the lecture focused on the ethnic profile of Mauritius, the development of power-sharing under the British colonial phase, and the institutional design of Mauritius during the period of independence. Sheena Sheetal highlighted that the institutional design at the end of the British colonial phase had a far-reaching impact on the establishment and continuation of the subsequent political system in Mauritius. After many rounds of negotiations, the model of 20 constituencies plus “the Best Loser System” became the basic framework for democratic functioning in Mauritius to this day.

At the end of the lecture, drawing on the theories of Arend Lijphart, Sheena Sheetal defined consociational democracy into four elements: Grand Coalition, Proportional Representation, Mutual Veto, and Segmental Autonomy within the Mauritian context. Regarding the challenges faced by consociational democracy in Mauritius, Sheena Sheetal described them as multidimensional and complex, including the ethnic influence in politics, the ethnization of political parties, the imbalance of power in political coalition negotiations, the role of religious organizations, the problems of constituency delimitation, voting methods, and the elitist nature of the decision-making process. These challenges highlight the complexity of maintaining a stable and inclusive democracy in a multi-ethnic Mauritian society. Addressing these issues requires sustained efforts to promote national unity, inclusive governance, and equitable representation of all ethnic groups.

During the Q&A session, Sheena Sheetal engaged in a lively discussion with IIAS students and faculty, as well as other online participants. Topics included the historical and socio-political factors that have concentrated power in the hands of elites, how reforms can contribute to a more equitable distribution of power, the impact of the ethnicization of major political parties on political stability and governance in Mauritius, strategies to promote a more inclusive political environment, the primary advantages and disadvantages of “the Best Loser System” in ensuring fair representation of minority groups, and how this system can be improved to better serve its purpose.

Sheena Sookrajowa Sheetal, Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Mauritius, Chair of RC 14 - Politics and Ethnicity at International Political Science Association, Head of Department of History and Political Science, University of Mauritius. Her main research interests include ethnic politics, political party research, elections and voting behavior, migration, and public policy. She has published several articles in journals such as Ethnopolitics, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, Representation and Politikon by Routledge, Taylor and Francis.