Political Parties in South Africa

Political parties and the party system that underpins South Africa’s democracy have the potential to build a cohesive and prosperous nation. In the past few years the ANC’s dominance has strained the system and tested it and its institutions’ fortitude. There are deeper issues of accountability that often spurn the Constitution and there is also a clear need to foster meaningful public participation and transparency. This volume offers a different and detailed assessment of the health of South Africa’s political system.

1. Introduction
2. Whither the ANC’s Dominance?
3. The Need to Reform the Electoral System in South Africa
4. Women, the Electoral System and Political Parties
5. Political Parties and Political Leadership
6. Do Political Parties Still Shift Public Opinion?
7. Securing their Future Using Election Campaigns to Safeguard the Party System
8. Political Parties and their Capacity to Provide Parliamentary
9. ANC Hegemony
10. The African National Congress and South Africa’s Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
11. Moving South Africa Forward?