South Africa Flashcards
Legislative-Executive System SA
Parliamentary
Type of Democracy/ Authoritarianism SA
Majoritarian Democracy with liberal elements
Consociational democracy
Mixed Republican system
Consociational Democracy
In a consociational state, all groups, including minorities, are represented on the political and economic stages.
Mixed Republican System
- 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)
SA unitary / federal
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
Head of State SA
President
Can dissolve parliament can call referenda
Crucial role in foreign policy
Selects / dismisses ministers
Head of government SA
President
Can dissolve parliament can call referenda
Crucial role in foreign policy
Selects / dismisses ministers
Government / Cabinet SA
Government depends on parliemtary majority
Lower House SA
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
Upper House SA
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
Judiciary SA
Constitutional Court
Constitution places strong emphasis on minority rights
Powerful (can conduct Judicial Review)
Electoral System SA
Proportional representation for National Assembly (Closed-List PR)
Exclusively based on political parties
Strong Party discipline
No intra-party democracy
intra-party democracy
a vote in parties of who will be the presidential candidate
Gini-coefficient
Economic inequality in numbers
GEAR
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
Incumbency Entrenchment
People in power change the laws to stay in power
Ideological Blurring
The ideology is not the same as in the past for different reasons.
Clientelism / Patronage / Corruption
Giving voters stuff so they vote you
Careerism
Going to the biggest party to make career
Factionalism and Fragmentation
Authoritarian Rule SA
Parties
ANC
Democratic Alliance
Economic Freedom Fighters
Inkatha Freedom Party
Apartheid Regime
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.
Sharpesville Massacre
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)
