Managing Election- Relation Violence for Democratic Stability in Ghana peasants and petty bourgeoisie – the ordinary people. Thus, at the level of economic performance, while the regime had catered to the interests of the higher classes, for the mass of people, their living circumstances had worsened(Hansen and Collins, 1980:13). The combination of failed economic policies and a lack of innovative ideas on the part of a military hierarchy perceived as corrupt and alienated from its ranks, along with the general societal fatigue and impatience with military rule presented all the ingredients for a charismatic populist leader to emerge. Revolutionary populism and the advent of'Junior Jesus' A stagnant economy, political agitation and a military that had lost societal respect and support for its political and economic adventurism combined to pave the way for the'first coming of Junior Jesus' in the form of a junior Air Force officer, Flight­Lieutenant Jeremiah John Rawlings. On 15 May 1979, Rawlings had moved an Air Force unit to force a meeting with the SMC II to discuss grievances that the junior officers had against the senior officers(Hansen and Collins, 1980:15). Rawlings was then arrested at the meeting and was subjected to a public military tribunal. The arrest and trial of this putschist, the SMC II believed, would salvage some of its image and reputation. However, upon bringing Rawlings to the tribunal, the tables were dramatically turned against the SMC II when the eloquent statement of defence by Rawlings(read out by the prosecution) and justification for his actions made it evident that the SMC II, in its haste to vilify Rawlings and vindicate its actions, had instead turned him into a hero. Rawlings' populist tendency was revealed when he took full 82