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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Transition, the State and relations of political power in South Africa
Author:Booysen, SusanISNI
Year:1990
Periodical:Politikon: South African Journal of Political Studies
Volume:17
Issue:2
Pages:42-63
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:power
political parties
African National Congress (South Africa)
External link:https://doi.org/10.1080/02589349008704931
Abstract:The changing relations of political power between the State and the ANC are currently reconstituting the political terrain in South Africa. This paper specifies the precise nature of this new terrain. It is argued that the power relations between the South African government and the ANC have undergone a number of important changes in the period from 1989 to 1990. For analytical purposes, two major periods are distinguished: pre and post-February 2, 1990, or before and after the mutual agreement on 'a peaceful solution to South Africa's problems'. Section 1 looks at the issues of political power, and political power in political transition. Section 2 analyses the respective power strategies of the ANC and the government. Section 3 explores the changing relations of power between the government and the ANC in the two periods. The interdependence between the ANC and the government is analysed. From this follows the extent of cooperation between the parties and the related issue of pact and alliance forming. To detail the power imbalance, concessions and preliminary constitutional agreements are compared. Notwithstanding the superior and apparently growing power position of the government vis-à-vis the ANC, they are in an interdependent relationship. The question of how the inequalities and imbalances of political power affect the process of political transition, both on the procedural and substantive levels, is addressed in section 4. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum.
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