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Comparative Analysis of Political Systems > South Africa > Flashcards

South Africa Flashcards

1
Q

Legislative-Executive System SA

A

Parliamentary

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2
Q

Type of Democracy/ Authoritarianism SA

A

Majoritarian Democracy with liberal elements
Consociational democracy
Mixed Republican system

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3
Q

Consociational Democracy

A

In a consociational state, all groups, including minorities, are represented on the political and economic stages.

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4
Q

Mixed Republican System

A
  • Constitution
    o Supreme law of the land (see: Germany)
    o Ephasis on minority rights (liberal democracy)
    o Emphasis on affirmative action
     Constitution puts the closing of the gap between black en white as a main goal
  • Institutions
    o Parliamentary system with executive presidency
    o Directly elected parliament
    o President elected by parliament
     Powerful president
    o Government depends on parliamentary majority
     Parliamentary system
     Decentralized provincial government (but formally no federation)
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5
Q

SA unitary / federal

A

Unitary
Decentralised state where provinces have a lot of autonomy (not codified in constitution)
Each province has a constitution but federal gov can overturn their legislation

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6
Q

Head of State SA

A

President
Can dissolve parliament can call referenda
Crucial role in foreign policy
Selects / dismisses ministers

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7
Q

Head of government SA

A

President
Can dissolve parliament can call referenda
Crucial role in foreign policy
Selects / dismisses ministers

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8
Q

Government / Cabinet SA

A

Government depends on parliemtary majority

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9
Q

Lower House SA

A

National Assembly
Dominant house
One party has always had the majority = relatively weak (not strong role in checking executive power)
- 400 members, elected for a 5-year term
- Lower house can overide upper house decisions by 2/3 majority

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10
Q

Upper House SA

A

National Council of Provinces
Represents Provinces
- Small provinces over represented
- Six permanent delegates; four special delegates
o Six, indirectly selected by provincial parliaments
o 4, priminister of eacht province and three members of parliament of province
- This house is weaker than the National assembly

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11
Q

Judiciary SA

A

Constitutional Court
Constitution places strong emphasis on minority rights
Powerful (can conduct Judicial Review)

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12
Q

Electoral System SA

A

Proportional representation for National Assembly (Closed-List PR)
Exclusively based on political parties
Strong Party discipline
No intra-party democracy

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13
Q

intra-party democracy

A

a vote in parties of who will be the presidential candidate

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14
Q

Gini-coefficient

A

Economic inequality in numbers

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15
Q

GEAR

A

Growth Employment and Redistribution
Government created a five-year plan—Growth, Employment, and Redistribution (GEAR)—that focused on privatization and the removal of exchange controls. GEAR was only moderately successful in achieving some of its goals but was hailed by some as laying an important foundation for future economic progress.
SouthAfrica

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16
Q

Incumbency Entrenchment

A

People in power change the laws to stay in power

17
Q

Ideological Blurring

A

The ideology is not the same as in the past for different reasons.

18
Q

Clientelism / Patronage / Corruption

A

Giving voters stuff so they vote you

19
Q

Careerism

A

Going to the biggest party to make career

20
Q

Factionalism and Fragmentation

A
21
Q

Authoritarian Rule SA

A
22
Q

Parties

A

ANC
Democratic Alliance
Economic Freedom Fighters
Inkatha Freedom Party

23
Q

Apartheid Regime

A

The policy of segregation put in place by the Afrikaner-dominated racist authoritarian regime in South
Africa that was in power from 1948 to 1994.

End of Apartheid
Potential Reasons
End of the Cold War: European powers tolerated the existence of Apartheid as it was seen as a
crucial ally in the fight against communism (which was spreading in Southern Africa). Fall of
Communism = criticism of regime.
South Africa was becoming increasingly isolated because of the racist nature of its regime =
Economic stagnation and downturn.

24
Q

Sharpesville Massacre

A

o 97 innocent protesters of the ANC were killed
o From this period there was violent resistance to the Apartheid Regime
o Mandela went in hiding because Police wanted him
- 1963: Rivonia Trial: Mandel incarcerated (just like other members of the ANC)

25
Q

Truth and Reconciliation Committee

A

The post-apartheid body established to document apartheid-era human rights abuses and to give
reparations to victims and amnesty to perpetrators who confessed to crimes.
Seen as a model in other post-atrocity / post-conflict states (see: Rwandan Genocide)

26
Q

Government of National Unity

A

Grand coalition which includes all parties.

27
Q

Competitive Oligarchy

A

Dahl, 1971: Competitive system, but no participation or inclusiveness.

28
Q

Bantustans

A

Tribal “homelands” established by the apartheid regime to deprive the black majority of South African
citizenship.

29
Q

Group Areas Act

A

The centerpiece of apartheid legislation that divided South Africans into four racial categories and
required strict segregation of housing along racial lines.

30
Q

Zuma scandals

A
  • 1999: Mbeki establishes Scorpions
    o Elite crimefighter union, that battles corruption
  • 2005-2008: Zuma corruption trial, rape trial
    o Before he came to power, already corruption and rape scandals.
  • 2008: Zuma replaces Mbeki, disbands Scorpions
  • 2012: Nkandla scandal
    o Nkandla is a village in Zulu territroy, Zuma build a palace for himself in which corrupt construction companies were involved
  • 2017: Ramaphosa narrowly defeats Zuma’s wife
    o Ramaphosa = venda
  • 2018: 18 charges of corruption; 700 counts of fraud on Zuma
  • June 2021: sentenced to 15 months jail
    o Light sentence, but a president going to jail is already bijzonder
  • Ramaphosa: “rampant corruption”; proclaiming a “new dawn”
31
Q

1996 Settlement

A
  • Liberal vs. majoritarian notions of democracy
  • Lijphart: clearly a consociational democracy
    o Like the Netherlands, poldermodel
  • Debate of position of:
    1. Presidency (rotating or not?)
    2. Bicameralism (strong or weak?) NP = strong, ANC = weak
    3. Electoral system (NP = Single member district, ANC = proportional system)
    4. Grand coalition (government of national unity)
    5. Power-sharing longevity (1 term or longer?)
    6. Decision-making within GNU (veto powers?) ANC = no veto, NP = yes veto
    7. Federalism
  • ANC has won the debate in the end if we look at it now
  • Hamill: Comprehensive victory for a mojoirtarian political philosophy

Comparative Analysis of Political Systems (10 decks)

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