Factions and Factionalism in South African Party Politics – Appraising (de)Merits

IF 0.9 4区社会学 Q3 POLITICAL SCIENCE

Politikon Pub Date : 2021-04-15 DOI:10.1080/02589346.2021.1913553

M. Kanyane

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT Faction is an old age phenomenon world over. The democratic consolidation in South Africa post 1994 is close to three decades but did not escape factionalism. Does faction phenomenon bring about havoc, conflicts, splits, and instability corollaries or strengthen party politics in response to fulfilling the general will? In responding to this question, South African party politics and factional battles within the ruling party and other political formations are discussed as a case study to explore the merits and demerits of factions and factionalism. In doing this, a discourse analysis was undertaken to understand how faction phenomenon brings about complots or a positive change. The discourse analysed arrived to the conclusion that whilst factions are blatantly criticised for rearing havoc and instability in party politics as well as signs of split-offs and threats as demerits in South Africa, there are also inevitable trade-offs to be welcomed as merits to create opportunities to drive positive change within the broader party-political spectrum to strengthen participatory democracy and the multi-party system in South Africa.

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南非政党政治中的派系和派系主义——评价(de)优点

派系是一个世界性的古老现象。1994年以后，南非的民主巩固已经持续了近30年，但并没有摆脱派系斗争。派系现象是带来浩劫、冲突、分裂和不稳定的必然结果，还是为了满足公意而加强政党政治?在回答这个问题时，南非的政党政治和执政党和其他政治组织内部的派系斗争作为一个案例研究来探讨派系和派系主义的优缺点。在此过程中，进行了话语分析，以了解派系现象如何带来阴谋或积极的变化。通过分析得出的结论是，在南非，虽然各派因在政党政治中制造混乱和不稳定以及分裂和威胁的迹象而受到公然批评，但也有不可避免的权衡作为优点受到欢迎，可以创造机会，在更广泛的政党政治范围内推动积极的变化，以加强南非的参与式民主和多党制。

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来源期刊

Politikon POLITICAL SCIENCE-

CiteScore

1.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

32 weeks

期刊介绍： Politikon focuses primarily on South African politics, but not exclusively so. Over the years the journal has published articles by some of the world" leading political scientists, including Arend Lijphart, Samuel Huntingdon, and Philippe Schmitter. It has also featured important contributions from South Africa"s leading political philosophers, political scientists and international relations experts. It has proved an influential journal, particularly in debates over the merits of South Africa"s constitutional reforms (in 1983 and 1994). In the last few years special issues have focused on women and politics in South Africa, and the South African election of 1999.