Research Catalog

Title

Political parties in South Africa : do they undermine or underpin democracy? / edited by Heather A. Thuynsma.

Publication

Pretoria : Africa Institute of South Africa, 2017.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Thuynsma, Heather A.
• Africa Institute of South Africa, issuing body.

Description

xxvi, 204 pages : illustrations; 24 cm

Summary

Political parties and the party system that underpins South Africa's democracy have the potential to build a cohesive and prosperous nation. But in the past few years the ANC's dominance has strained the system and tested it and its institutions' fortitude. There are deeper issues of accountability that often spurn the Constitution and there is also a clear need to foster meaningful public participation and transparency. This volume offers a different and detailed assessment of the health of South Africa's political system. This study intends to unravel the condition of the party system in South Africa and culminates in the question: Do South African parties promote or hinder democracy in the country? The areas of the party system that are known to require continued work are the weakness of democratic structures within parties, the perceived lack of responsibility of elected parliamentarians towards voters, non-transparent private partner financing structures and a lack of attractiveness of party-political commitment, especially for women. Experts in the respective fields address all of these areas in this book. --

Subjects

• South Africa
• Democracy > South Africa
• Politics and government
• Political parties > South Africa
• African National Congress
• South Africa > Politics and government > 1994-
• Since 1994

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references.

Contents

South Africa's complex party system after the 2016 local government elections -- Introduction -- Wither the ANC's dominance? Waning electoral dominance, rising hegemonic dominance -- The need to reform the electoral system in South Africa : A constitutional engineering perspective -- Women, the electoral system and political parties -- Political parties and political leadership : Sewing reconciliation or divisions? -- Do political parties still shift public opinion? -- Securing their future : Using election campaigns to safeguard the party system -- Political parties and their capacity to provide parliamentary oversight -- ANC hegemony : Social and economic ramifications for South Africa -- The African National Congress and South Africa's foreign policy and diplomacy : A decolonial African perspective -- Conclusion : Moving South Africa forward?

Call Number

Sc F 19-110

ISBN

• 9780798305143
• 0798305142

OCLC

1002918425

Title

Political parties in South Africa : do they undermine or underpin democracy? / edited by Heather A. Thuynsma.

Publisher

Pretoria : Africa Institute of South Africa, 2017.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references.

Chronological Term

Since 1994

Added Author

Thuynsma, Heather A., editor.

Africa Institute of South Africa, issuing body.

Research Call Number

Sc F 19-110