Launching Democracy in South Africa

Launching Democracy in South Africa PDF Author: Richard William Johnson
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300063912
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 436

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Book Description
South Africa's first ever non-racial and multi-party election was perhaps the most significant global event of 1994. From the ashes of a repressive, segregated and racist state emerged - miraculously and relatively free from bloodshed - a new, multi-racial nation, led by one of the political icons of the late twentieth century, Nelson Mandela. Based on a large-scale and non-partisan public information project, this book is the definitive account of the process of democratisation in South Africa. The Launching Democracy project mounted teams of observers and monitored the campaign, party organisation, the media and voter education efforts throughout the crucial and populous areas of the Western Cape, Natal and the Reef. The result is an unparalleled source of information about the way the election really worked and the political sociology of South Africa in general. Written by a team of distinguished experts, the book analyses the results of the election in detail (and publishes them in full for the first time). It examines the intricacies of the disputed electoral process and the drama of the count, revealing irregularities, rivalry and widespread fear and intimidation. In a highly readable final section, the book carries the story into the post-election reality, exploring popular opinion and the demands now facing the Mandela government.

Launching Democracy in South Africa

Launching Democracy in South Africa PDF Author: Richard William Johnson
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300063912
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 436

Get Book Here

Book Description
South Africa's first ever non-racial and multi-party election was perhaps the most significant global event of 1994. From the ashes of a repressive, segregated and racist state emerged - miraculously and relatively free from bloodshed - a new, multi-racial nation, led by one of the political icons of the late twentieth century, Nelson Mandela. Based on a large-scale and non-partisan public information project, this book is the definitive account of the process of democratisation in South Africa. The Launching Democracy project mounted teams of observers and monitored the campaign, party organisation, the media and voter education efforts throughout the crucial and populous areas of the Western Cape, Natal and the Reef. The result is an unparalleled source of information about the way the election really worked and the political sociology of South Africa in general. Written by a team of distinguished experts, the book analyses the results of the election in detail (and publishes them in full for the first time). It examines the intricacies of the disputed electoral process and the drama of the count, revealing irregularities, rivalry and widespread fear and intimidation. In a highly readable final section, the book carries the story into the post-election reality, exploring popular opinion and the demands now facing the Mandela government.

The New Apartheid

The New Apartheid PDF Author: Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780624088547
Category : Apartheid
Languages : en
Pages : 227

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Book Description
South Africa's story is often presented as a triumph of new over old, but while formal apartheid was abolished decades ago, stark and distressing similarities persist. Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh explores the edifice of systemic racial oppression -- the new apartheid -- that continues to thrive, despite or even because of our democratic system.

Until We Have Won Our Liberty

Until We Have Won Our Liberty PDF Author: Evan Lieberman
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691203016
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
A compelling account of South Africa’s post-Apartheid democracy At a time when many democracies are under strain around the world, Until We Have Won Our Liberty shines new light on the signal achievements of one of the contemporary era’s most closely watched transitions away from minority rule. South Africa’s democratic development has been messy, fiercely contested, and sometimes violent. But as Evan Lieberman argues, it has also offered a voice to the voiceless, unprecedented levels of government accountability, and tangible improvements in quality of life. Lieberman opens with a first-hand account of the hard-fought 2019 national election, and how it played out in Mogale City, a post-Apartheid municipality created from Black African townships and White Afrikaner suburbs. From this launching point, he examines the complexities of South Africa’s multiracial society and the unprecedented democratic experiment that began with the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994. While acknowledging the enormous challenges many South Africans continue to face—including unemployment, inequality, and discrimination—Lieberman draws on the country’s history and the experience of comparable countries to demonstrate that elected Black-led governments have, without resorting to political extremism, improved the lives of millions. In the context of open and competitive politics, citizens have gained access to housing, basic services, and dignified treatment to a greater extent than during any prior period. Countering much of the conventional wisdom about contemporary South Africa, Until We Have Won Our Liberty offers hope for the enduring impact of democratic ideals.

Democracy in Africa

Democracy in Africa PDF Author: Nic Cheeseman
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1316239489
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 269

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Book Description
This book provides the first comprehensive overview of the history of democracy in Africa and explains why the continent's democratic experiments have so often failed, as well as how they could succeed. Nic Cheeseman grapples with some of the most important questions facing Africa and democracy today, including whether international actors should try and promote democracy abroad, how to design political systems that manage ethnic diversity, and why democratic governments often make bad policy decisions. Beginning in the colonial period with the introduction of multi-party elections and ending in 2013 with the collapse of democracy in Mali and South Sudan, the book describes the rise of authoritarian states in the 1970s; the attempts of trade unions and some religious groups to check the abuse of power in the 1980s; the remarkable return of multiparty politics in the 1990s; and finally, the tragic tendency for elections to exacerbate corruption and violence.

The Road to Democracy in South Africa

The Road to Democracy in South Africa PDF Author: South African Democracy Education Trust
Publisher: Unisa Press
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 800

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Book Description
The third volume in the series examines the role of anti-apartheid movements around the world and their success in both creating awareness of the liberation struggle in South Africa, and in contributing to the downfall of the apartheid government. This volume, in two parts, brings together analysis written by activist scholars with deep roots in the movements and organisations they are writing about. This first part focuses on International Solidarity with the liberation struggle. It covers the contribution of various international organisations, governments and their peoples, and solidarity organisations, to the liberation struggle in South Africa. In particular, the roles of nine western European countries are discussed: West Germany; Belgium; Austria; France; The Netherlands; Portugal; Spain; Greece and Switzerland. The second part focuses on African solidarity, with an emphasis on the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and its Liberation Committee; various countries in the southern African region, including the role that Tanzania and Zambia played; as well as countries in west, east and North Africa. This is a major resource for historians, scholars and anyone interested in the history of South Africa, and will be valued by future generations for its sensitive collection of highly significant historical material.

Decolonisation As Democratisation

Decolonisation As Democratisation PDF Author: Siseko H. Kumalo
Publisher: HSRC Press
ISBN: 9780796926005
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 245

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Book Description


Democracy Compromised

Democracy Compromised PDF Author: Lungisile Ntsebeza
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9047407903
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 336

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Book Description
This book argues that the promulgation of the Traditional Leadership and Governance Framework and Communal Land Rights Acts runs the risk of compromising South Africa's democracy. The acts establish traditional councils with land administration powers. These structures are dominated by unelected members.

Indigenous Social Security Systems in Southern and West Africa

Indigenous Social Security Systems in Southern and West Africa PDF Author: Ndangwa Noyoo
Publisher: AFRICAN SUN MeDIA
ISBN: 1928357903
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 241

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Book Description
The desire exists within Governments to provide for those who are on the fringes of society. Therefore, indigenous approaches seem relevant in the redistribution of resources among citizens. This book is therefore not only essential, but also timely. Indigenous Social Security Systems in Southern and West Africa (ISSS) contributes to human service literature for Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa in particular. The richness of the book lies within the variety of contributions that encourage its origin. The book?s value is extensive and captures many essential and current topics that have an appeal to academicians, policy?makers, analysts and practitioners in the field of social welfare and social security. Ultimately, the book serves as a pragmatic and expedient tool for human service practitioners and any enthusiast of social security systems.

Red Road to Freedom

Red Road to Freedom PDF Author: Tom Lodge
Publisher: James Currey
ISBN: 9781847013606
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Longlisted for South Africa's 2022 Sunday Times Non-fiction Award Definitive and gripping narrative history of the Communist Party of South Africa. Renowned historian Tom Lodge has written an immensely readable and compelling sweep of history, spanning continents and the last hundred years, producing the first comprehensive account of the South African Communist Party in all its intricacies. Taking the story back to the party's pre-history in the early 20th century reveals that it was shaped by a range of socialist traditions and that their influence persisted and were decisive. The party's engagement in popular front politics after 1935 has been largely uncharted: this book supplies fresh detail. In the 1940s the author shows how the party became a key actor in the formation of black working-class politics, and hitherto unused archival materials as well as the insights from an increasingly candid genre of autobiographies make possible a much fuller picture of the secret party of 1952 to 1965. Despite its concealment and tiny numbers, its intellectual impact on black South African mainstream politics was considerable. On the exile period, the author examines the activities of the party's recruits and more informal following inside South Africa, as well as the scope and nature of its broader influence. In 1990, a year in which global politics would change fundamentally, South African communists would return to South Africa to begin the work of reconstructing their party as a legal organisation. Throughout its history, the party had been inspired and supported by the reality of existing socialism, state systems embracing half of Europe and Asia, in which the ruling group was at least notionally committed to the building of communist societies. With the fall of Eastern European regimes and the fragmentation of the Soviet Union, one key set of material foundations for the party's programmatic beliefs crumbled and its most important international alliances in the global socialist community in Eastern Europe and Russia would end. Finally, Lodge brings the story up to date, assessing the degree to which communists both inside and outside government have shaped and influenced policy in successive ANC-led administrations, particularly during the popular resistance to apartheid during the 1950s, which was underpinned by the party's systematic organisation in the localities that supplied the ANC with its strongest bases. Jacana: Africa, India

Zunami!

Zunami! PDF Author: Roger Southall
Publisher: Jacana Media
ISBN: 1770097228
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 317

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Book Description
Analyzing the South African general elections of April 2009, the voting trends and results, this investigation also ponders the future prospects for South Africa. Those elections were the most momentous and important for a democratic Parliament since the "miracle" elections in 1994. Not only the recent elections bring Jacob Zuma to the presidency of the country but they threw up significant challenges to the ruling party from the breakaway Congress of the People, as well as from the Democratic Alliance, which won an outright majority in the Western Cape. This collection outlines the voting habits of the South African public as well as of the country's voting mechanisms. Featuring prominent academic and political contributors, this compilation ensures that the analysis is a well-informed record of South Africa's fourth major democratic contest.