Monday, April 23, 2007

South Afrca (SA) is one of the few countries that underwent the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) assessment. In the final report a number of issues were highlighted as undermining good governance in SA. One of these factors is the dominance of a single party in the political processes. Single party dominance tends to work against democracy as it blurs the difference between party and state. Thus a dominant party can use state resources to further party interests.

In the South African context the dominance of the ANC is something that can be attributed to the nature of opposition politics. For instance, to a majority of black South Africans the DA, which represents the official opposition party, comes across as not wholeheartedly committed to non-racialism. This allows the ANC despite a plethora of discontents among its constituency, to maintain control of the state and its institutions. My hypothesis is that until the DA re-invent itself into something appealling to the black populace, the ANC will remain a dominant force in South African politics.

4 comments:

Ijeoma Uche-Okeke said...

Bruce, the politics of South Africa is a subject that fascinates me. As a Nigerian, I had and still try to have a fair knowledge of the political climate in my country. It is rather sad that the usual maladies that afflict political parties in Africa, show strong symptoms of becoming a full-blown epidemic amongst the ranks of the ANC. It saddens me to see some of the things that are happening after the long years of violent and difficult struggle to achieve 'freedom'. I think the ANC is due for some serious self-assessment.

Thomas Michael Blaser said...

Is SA going down the road as the rest of Africa, as we could flippanlty ask? Good question. I hope not. But also, I think it will not. SA is in many ways different. While apartheid was in many ways like any other colonial situation, it also had many differences. It was not absolute rule and repression by a white minority. It was a pseudo democracy and hence certain elements of democracy were present and democratic SA benefits from these early "achievements". What worries me more is that intellectuals like Ali Mazrui call on "successful" African states to colonize the failed ones. I think Iraq and many other examples show us that we cannot "liberate" or "pacify" other people.

Adam N. Mukendi said...

Hi Bruce,
My view of APRM mechanism is not optimistic. This organisation is not the first come. If you know what happen to NEPAD policies you shouldn't expect more of this. I believe that one day African countries will make it but for now African leaders don't show enough conscientiousness about their continent. About the DA and the ANC, I can say that, clever DA's members are becoming ANC members already in other to compete in the crisis of black leadership in the country. May be Tony Leon could have gain more votes as the ANC knowledge internal conflict. However, you are right, we will still have for few year a black as head of state.
Adam

Bruce said...

Yes, South Africa is truly a unique African state. South Africa, for instance, is one African state with a strong industrial base and democratic traditions (of course in African terms). However, it is important to guard against complacency. Looking at the history of other African countries that gained independence earlier than South Africa may help us avoid pitfalls.