Book Reviews : Elections in Developing Countries. A Study of Electoral Procedures Used in Tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the British Caribbean. By T. E. SMITH. (London: St. Martin's Press, 1960. Pp. xvii, 278. $6.75.)

• DOI: 10.1177/106591296101400339
• Published date: 01 September 1961
• Date: 01 September 1961
• Author: Freeman Holmer
• Subject Matter: Articles

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in the forties,&dquo; influenced the then Governor Olson, placed their secret members
or fellow travelers in &dquo;strategic and pivotal government agencies ... ,&dquo; and placed
&dquo;their man&dquo; as chairman of the California Democratic party. To be sure, at
times Saposs is simply quoting from hearings of the investigating committees,
but he gives the impression of supporting these rather striking conclusions.
The book’s treatment of its over-all subject is spotty: in places it is detailed
and rather complete, but in others its coverage is shallow and its analyses are not
persuasive. In comparison with the excellent works on American communism
recently published by Shannon (1959) and by Draper (1960), the book by
Saposs appears to be something less than a major contribution.
RICHARD C. GRIPP
San Diego State College
Elections in Developing Countries. A Study of Electoral Procedures Used in
Tropical Africa, Southeast Asia, and the British Caribbean. By T. E. SMITH.
(London: St. Martin’s Press, 1960. Pp. xvii, 278. $6.75.)
Less than two years ago, W. J. M. Mackenzie’s Free Elections provided a
tightly knit description of the issues and principles involved in the conduct of
truly free and democratic elections. That volume, like the one under review,
reflected British experience in the conduct of elections under circumstances quite
foreign to American experience. Yet, each volume affords a perspective that is
of immeasurable value in appreciating the truly essential elements of free
elections.
The focus of T. E. Smith’s volume is on the problems of election administra-
tion among people who may be illiterate, nomadic, and new to the ways of
democracy. He deals with every aspect of election practice, touching lightly on
questions of campaign finance, but otherwise providing a balanced approach to
problems of voter registration, nomination of candidates, arrangements for
balloting and counting of the ballots, as well as the geographical and administra-
tive...