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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Election 2014 and the ANC's duet of dominance and decline
Author:Booysen, SusanISNI
Year:2015
Periodical:Journal of African Elections (ISSN 1609-4700)
Volume:14
Issue:1
Pages:7-34
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:elections
2014
African National Congress (South Africa)
election campaigns
political participation
Abstract:The African National Congress (ANC) result in South Africa's national and provincial elections of 2014 sings in two voices - 'extraordinary repeat victory' and 'monolith in gradual decline'. The fact that the party continued to dominate, with 62% of the national vote, was a significant achievement in this fifth set of national-provincial elections in democratic South Africa. In none of these elections has the ANC polled below 60%. Yet, from whatever angle its result is analysed, decline and decay are evident. The national result trend is one of serial decline over the last three elections. The opposition challenge came from both left and right and the ANC took losses on both flanks; turnout was down, as many of its supporters chose abstention over vote-switching; the ANC became more dependent on rural votes in an urbanizing South Africa and results in the metropoles suggest further degeneration, unless the party invents turnarounds. A trend reversal remains possible, yet would be exceedingly difficult given the extraordinary campaign that was required to bring in the 62% in 2014. This article dissects the story of the ANC in Election 2014 in four parts. It begins with the phenomenal election campaign. Secondly, the article analyses the campaign machinery that carried the 2014 quest and explores how the ANC came to rely on large numbers of volunteers. Thirdly, the article turns to the election results, dissects the trends and explores the explanations. Finally, it considers the implications of the result, which was a resounding electoral victory, with large national margins over opposition parties, yet with disquieting implications for the ANC. The analysis draws on the author's 2013-14 research into voter attitudes and on continuous monitoring of election-related developments. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract, edited]
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