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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Centralization and Fragmentation of South Africa's Dominant Party System
Author:Southall, Roger J.ISNI
Year:1998
Periodical:African Affairs: The Journal of the Royal African Society
Volume:97
Issue:389
Period:October
Pages:443-469
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:African National Congress (South Africa)
opposition parties
Politics and Government
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/723341
Abstract:This article argues that developments are taking place within South Africa that are entrenching the dominance of the ANC, established at the election in 1994, despite something of a lessening in that party's popular support, and despite the emergence of a tendential fracturing of its 'tripartite alliance' with the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). In particular, the author proposes that a bid by the ANC government to centralize power is being accompanied by a further fragmentation of the political opposition. The ANC has sought to transform its electoral dominance into actual control over State and society by rewriting the constitution, by the attempted containment of provincial autonomy within the party, by the imposition of party discipline and the curtailment of parliamentary accountability, and by the imposition of administrative and financial discipline upon the provincial governments. Meanwhile, the external challenge posed to the ANC is becoming increasingly fragmented, with no prospect in sight that the existing parties in opposition have enough in common to pose a significant threat. Whilst for the moment this does not jeopardize South Africa's status as a democracy, it does raise questions concerning the quality and depth of that democracy in the future. Notes, ref., sum.
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