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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The key to one-party dominance: a comparative analysis of selected States: some lessons for South Africa?
Author:Mtimkulu, Phillip
Year:2009
Periodical:Journal of African Elections (ISSN 1609-4700)
Volume:8
Issue:2
Pages:23-45
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subject:one-party systems
Abstract:Since the ascent to power of the African National Congress (ANC) in 1994, the concept of one-party dominance has dominated the South African political landscape. The magnitude of the ANC's victories in four consecutive elections raises questions about whether South Africa is headed for a one-party dominant political system achieved through democratic rather than authoritarian means - a feat achieved by only a few political parties in the past century. The author presents a comparative analysis of dominant political parties in five selected States - Botswana, India, Israel, Italy and Sweden - and argues that the ascension to power of parties which have attained dominance has been preceded by extraordinary circumstances prevailing within their States and that it was the successful involvement of these parties in resolving these circumstance that was responsible for their victory in subsequent elections. However, other factors also contributed to the continued electoral success of the parties. The ANC also traces its ascension to power back to the extraordinary circumstances that prevailed in South Africa and which the party assisted in resolving. The author assesses the possibility that the ANC will attain dominance in the South African body politic as parties in other countries have done. This necessitates a study of the factors the parties exploited in order to be continuously voted into power. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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