South Africa

Question 1

Pre colonial South Africa

Answer 1

Many different well developed state like entities like the Zulu kingdom and Khoisan people (2000 BC)

Question 2

17th -19th century = colonization

Answer 2

 1814 cape colony becomes British
II. Arrival of Dutch settlers and settlement of the Cape of Good Hope region has a supply colony
on their way to Indonesia - “Boers” (1652);
III. Dutch arrive at (1652);
IV. Cape Town is taken over by the British and they take over the absolution of slavery (1795);
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|—> Boers move Eastward and establish the Boer Republic - “Great Trek” (1835) causing lots of war/disagreements
Last for several decades and are self governing

Question 3

Boer wars and union

Answer 3

 1880-1881 first boer war -> brits defeated by boer republics
 1899-1902 second boer war -> brits are more powerful, guerrilla tactics and scare tactics like concentration camps
 Boer republics become part of the empire
 1910 union of south Africa
- ANC founded in 1912
* 1926 independence from UK and discrimination in former boer territories continued
 Namibia became independent from SA after 1990

Question 4

Apartheid regime 1948-1994

Answer 4

 1948 national party starts apartheid
* Racial segregation, 4 different race groups
 1960 Sharpeville massacre
* Peaceful protest by black people was neergeslagen met massacre
 Very violent regime
 After a time violent resistance against the regime
X. The National Party starts apartheid (1948);
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|—> Population registration and group areas act (1950);
|—> Separate representation of voters act (1951);
|—> Only whites (10-20% of the population) have political rights;
|—> Formally democratic institutions;
|—> Politics dominated by National Party;
 1963 Rivonia trial -> Mandela incarcerated

Question 5

Apartheid political system

Answer 5

 1950 population registration and group areas act
* Determined areas where people could live, and segregation of people into 4 races
 1951 only whites could vote after separate representation of voters act
 1983 third south African constitution
* 3 chambers

Question 6

Apartheid core features

Answer 6

• Only whites, 10-20% of population have political and human rights
• Classified as competitive oligarchy Dahl 1971
  o There is competition, not mass participation
• Nominally democratic institutions
• Parliamentary system with ceremonial president
• Politics dominated by national party

Question 7

The Bantustans

Answer 7

 So-called homelands for the black cultures the government identified
 For 80% of people, but compromised of less than 10% of land
 Often dry land, not really nice

Question 8

1990s end of apartheid

Answer 8

 SA was ally of western powers
* So western powers tolerated apartheid
 End of cold war -> SA alliance was no longer needed so western countries and pol. Parties could condemn and criticize apartheid
 1980s/1990s SA became isolated on world stage, resulting in stagnating economy, embargo’s on SA so apartheid was no longer viable
* Apartheid ministers, presidents and politicians started reforms
 1990 Mandela freed form prison
 1993 adoption of interim constitution
 1994 first democratic elections

Question 9

A new settlement

Answer 9

 1996 truth and reconciliation commission established (TRC)
* Acknowledge and heal the nation
 1996 new constitution adopted (drafted by ANC and NP)
 Apartheid political system modified and extended
 Mandela incorporated whites into his party
 Most apartheid institutions remained in place
 Mass suffrage is main change
 1994-1997 government of national unity (ANC, NP, IFP)
* Only lasted 3 years

Question 10

Cleavages race and religion

Answer 10

 Apartheid, four official races
 10 Bantustans -> Within black population, there are ethnic and linguistic differences
 White divisions and black divisions
 11 official languages
 Rainbow nation?

Question 11

Cleavages race

Answer 11

• Apartheid between 4 different races;
• White divisions between Afrikaans/English;
• Black divisions between more than 11 ethnic groups;
• 11 official languages;
• Called the Rainbow Nation by Nelson Mandela;

Question 12

1996 settlement

Answer 12

 Liberal vs majoritarian notions of democracy
 Lijphart “clearly a consociational democracy”
 Debate position of
* Presidency (rotating or not)
* Bicameralism (strong or weak)
* Electoral system (PR or SMD)
* Grand coalition (government of national unity)
* Power sharing longevity (1 term or longer)
* Decision making within GNU (veto-power)
 ANC has won the debate
 Hamill “comprehensive victory for a majoritarian political philosophy”

Question 13

Constitution -mixed republican system

Answer 13

• Supreme law of the land (see Germany)
• Emphasis on minority rights (liberal democracy)
• Strong emphasis on affirmative action

Question 14

Institutions - mixed republican system

Answer 14

• Parliamentary system with executive presidency
• Directly elected parliament (only lower house)
• President elected by parliament
• Government depends on parliamentary majority
• Decentralized provincial government (but no formal federation)

Question 15

Parliament = national assembly

Answer 15

 400 members, elected for 5 year term
- Elects the president;
- Stronger house - prepares and passes legislation (including the budget);
- Dominated by one party since 1994;
* Can override national council of provinces with 2/3 of support

Question 16

Parliamentary elections

Answer 16

 Apartheid = SMD/FPTP
 Since 1994 list PR system
 Vote for party, not person
 No districts
 No thresholds
 Produces strong party discipline
* Lack of intra party democracy

Question 17

Provinces of SA

Answer 17

 9 powerful provinces with own constitutions
 No federal state, central government can overturn legislation
 2009, 2014 and 2019 DA wins elections in western cape province

Question 18

Political parties ANC

Answer 18

 Founded in 1912
 Nonviolent movement for multiracial democracy
 1950 alliance with SACP (communist party)
 1960 foundation of Umkhonto we Sizwe (guerilla)
 Ideology
* Marxism -> social democracy
* Racial equality
* Economic equality
* Since 1990s capitalism and liberalism
* Permanently in power since 1994

Question 19

Democratic alliance

Answer 19

Successor of PFP
* Liberalism
* Centrism
* Multiracial democracy
* Anti-corruption
* Minority rights

Question 20

EFF

Answer 20

Left wing split off from ANC youth wing
* Marxism/socialist
* Pan Africanism
* Economic redistribution
* Land reform
* Populism

Question 21

inkatha freedom party

Answer 21

 Rivalry with ANC, apartheid co-optation
 Ideology
* Zulu minority rights
* Federalism, devolution
* Traditional leadership
* Conservatism
politically violent in 1990s-2000s

Question 22

Dominant party system

Answer 22

 One large party that dominates the others with a large majority
 Discussion, majority of seats, vs hegemonic in gov?
 Often seen in non-western/new democracies
- Not the same as authoritarian one-party state such as China

Question 23

Democratic consequences of ANC dominance

Answer 23

 Incumbency entrenchment
 Ideological blurring
 Clientelism, patronage and corruption
 Careerism, party as power machine
 Factionalism and fragmentation within party
 Or authoritarian rule
 Only in SA -> voter apathy and disillusionment
 Declining participation

Question 24

Declining partisanship

Answer 24

Reasons;
|—> Bad performance - unfulfilled promises/policy
implementation;
|—> Declining trust - scandals;
|—> Young/new voters are less partisan;
 Positive: absence of sharp polarization

Question 25

Zuma scandal 2005-?

Answer 25

 1999 Mbeki establishes scorpions
 2005-2008 Zuma corruption trial, rape trial
 2008 Zuma replaces Mbeki, disbands scorpions
 2012 Nkandla scandal
 2017 Ramaphosa narrowly defeats Zuma’s wife
 2018 18 charges of corruption, 700 counts of fraud against Zuma
 June 2021 sentenced to 15 months jail
 Ramaphosa “rampant corruption” proclaiming “new dawn” in his presidency

Question 26

Transition to democracy

Answer 26

Opening
|—> Internationally, no anti-communist bulwark anymore;
|—> Internally, opening under Frederik de Klerk;
|—> 1990, Mandela freed from prison;
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Negotiations between Mandela (ANC) and De Klerk (NP)
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|—> Adoption of interim constitution (1993);
|—> First democratic elections (1994);
|—> Government of National Unity - ANC, NP, IFP (1994-1997);
XIII.Joining the Organisation of African Unity (AU predecessor);
XIV. Truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) established and adoption of new constitution ,
drafted by ANC and NP (1996);
XV. Joining the BRICS (2011);

Question 27

Class cleavage

Answer 27

• Biggest levels of inequality in the world (highest Gini coefficient);
• 90-95% of assets owned by 10% of population;
• Overlapping/parallel cleavage with race;

Question 28

Centre periphery cleavage

Answer 28

• Partial overlap with ethnic cleavage;
• Reinforced by strong provincial decentralisation;
• Claims for greater autonomy by IFP;

Question 29

Religious cleavage

Answer 29

• Religious diversity;
• Less important than other cleavages;

Question 30

President, head of state and head of government

Answer 30

• Elected from among National Assembly (parliamentarism);
• Depends on parliamentary majority;
• Stronger than typical prime minister, weaker than typical president;
• Selects and dismisses ministers;

Question 31

Parliament - national council of provinces

Answer 31

• 90 members (10 per province);
• 6 permanent delegats;
• 4 special delegates (premier and 3 subject-specific nominees);
• Weaker house;
• Votes legislation affecting provinces;
• Can be overridden by 2/3 in NA;

Question 32

Judiciary

Answer 32

• Branched judiciary with a mixed (common and civil) system;
• Constitutional court (11 members serving 12-year terms, appointed by president on
  recommendation of judicial commission);

Question 33

Local government

Answer 33

9 provinces (symmetric competences and strong legislative powers);
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Provincial competences:
1. Exclusive - provincial culture, roads, etc.
2. Concurrent (state framework) - education, health, etc.
3. State detains residual competences;
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Formally not a federal state, but fulfils federal criteria (sub-state entities detain legislative powers,
but the state is build as an union of entities and the upper house is weak and it has no explicit
constitutional recognition);