Comparative Government final exam

Five categories of factors leading to South Africa's democratization

1. Demographic pressure and growing unrest 2. Economic decline 3. Internal reforms 4. The changing international context 5. Skilled leadership

federal

It is difficult to call South Africa a ______ state, and the concept is a politically charged issue. During the transition to democracy, the ANC in particular looked upon federalism with a great deal of suspicion. At that time, the National Party (NP), architects of apartheid, favored federalism as a way to limit the ANC's power, while some Afrikaners in fact hoped that federal right to self-determination could pave the way for outright secession. The Zulu-based Inkatha Freedom Party also called for self-determination--and an independent Zulu state. The 1996 constitution reflects these concerns by supporting regional and ethnic diversity. Still, the constitution gives the central govt the ability to overturn local legislation relatively easily, and any powers not delimited by the constitution reside with the CENTRAL, not the local, Government. Provinces also have limited power to levy taxes, giving them little financial autonomy.

HIV positive

It is estimated that nearly 12% of South Africans over the age of two are ____ ______, one of the highest rates in the world (600 die everyday). Affects the economy in that the AIDS pandemic will cut an estimated 5% from South African GDP each year over the next ten years. The health care system is underfunded and grossly inadequate, and corporations are increasingly wary of investing in personnel, given the mortality odds facing their employees.

F. W. de Klerk

Last president of the apartheid regime; he negotiated the transition to democracy with the ANC.

Nelson Mandela

Long-imprisoned leader of the ANC who became South Africa's first post-apartheid president.

National Assembly

Lower and more powerful house, currently with 400 members; serve for five year terms, and they are charged with electing and removing the president, preparing and passing legislation, and approving the national budget. Has a weekly "question time" Can override the upper house with a two-thirds vote.

ubuntu

Many observers remain optimistic that ANC-governed South Africa can overcome the tragedies of the country's history as well as its current social and economic woes, including endemic crime and violence. they argue that both the South African people and political culture have shown a remarkable capacity to avoid conflict even in the face of serious economic and social problems. Scholars note "countervailing sources of stability" in South Africa's political culture, including a pervasive tradition of collective decision making (known as ______), the ANC's proven pragmatism and political discipline, and the "prudential caution" of white and blacks forged during the period of transition. Perhaps most important, with the rise of a new black capitalist class, the country has seen the gradual emergence of a multiracial elite.

1984 Constitution

Many whites had come to accept that apartheid had its problems. So they rewrote the constitution that established a parliament with three chambers in it. A chamber that represents whites, a chamber that represents Asians, and a chamber that represents coloreds; so no longer will South Africa be a white-only ruled country. Problems: 75% of the people aren't represented Demonstrates a mindset shift in the white community. We can't survive, apartheid will not last. Our survival depends on some concessions.

New Partnership for Africa's Development

NEPAD The African Union program that attempts to tie foreign development aid to a commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

National Party

NP Now defunct party that created apartheid and dominated politics during the apartheid era.

inclusive

Overall, the electoral system in South Africa has successfully created an ______ political atmosphere and has averted conflict and violence. Voter turnout has been very here (2009-- over 77%) However,some critics have argued that the use of PR has created a disconnect between the National Assembly and the citizens. Because members of parliament are tied to their party instead of their constituency, they are no accountable to local communities. Political parties can stifle internal dissent and limit the independence of legislators by threatening to remove them from the party electoral list if they stray too far from the party's wishes. Some suggest trying a mixed electoral system, where some percentage of the seats are filled by plurality while the remaining are filled by PR. This would give voters a local representative with whom they could identify, as well as the ability to cast their vote for a particular party. The current system has become institutionalized.

legislature

Parliament

Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Post-apartheid body established to document apartheid-era human rights abuses and to give reparations to victims and amnesty to perpetrators who confessed to crimes.

South African Development Community

SADC A thirteen-member African regional economic and cooperation community, of which South Africa was a founding member.

populist wing

Since late 2007, the ANC has become badly divided between a _______ _____, led current president Jacob Zuma and backed by trade unions and the party rank and file, and the more technocratic wing, dominated by former president Mbeki. Zuma's successful challenge to Mbeki in the bitterly contested party leadership election of Dec. 2007 led to the first significant split in the ANC. After wining the ANC leadership, Zuma began to replace Mbeki loyalists with his own supporters in key party posts. Zuma was able to force the resignation of Mbeki in September 2008, but Zuma could not become president because he was not a member of the legislature. The ANC appointed Kgalema Motlanthe, an ally of Zuma, as a caretaker president to serve until the 2009 general elections.

important regional actor

Since the fall of apartheid, South Africa has sought to develop a role as an _______ ______ ____, leading both by economic example and by moral example. But over the past decade, this position has been caught up in the politics of its neighbor Zimbabwe. Similar to the ANC, the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU), led by Mugabe, struggled to end white rule. ZANU won in 1980. Unlike South Africa, however, the transition led to conflict among different indigenous African ethnic groups and thousands of deaths.

F. W. de Klerk

Skilled leader. Forced prime minister Botha's resignation and he courageously decided to free Mandela and legalize the ANC, which were essential to South Africa's transition.

three

South Africa has _____ capitals: The seat of government is located in Pretoria, the traditional heart of Afrikaner power and the center of the former Boer republics. Cape Town, where English influence was strongest, is the legislative capital. South Africa's judicial capital is located in Bloemfontein.

Thabo Mbeki

South Africa's former two-term president who was forced to resign in 2008 when he failed to win the election as the ANC leader.

National Assembly

South Africa's legislature.

ANC

South Africa's major anti-apartheid liberation movement, and the governing party since the return of democracy in 1994.

COSATU

South Africa's most important trade union confederation, closely linked to the governing ANC.

legislature

South African presidents can be removed by _____ but only with great difficulty. A vote of no confidence requires the support of two thirds of the members of the National Assembly and can be taken only on the ground of a substantial violation of the law. A vote of no confidence has not yet been attempted. To date, the overwhelming power of the ANC in the National Assembly, combined with the prestige of Nelson Mandela as the first president, has given the office a great deal of authority.

Boers

Term describing the early Dutch settlers in South Africa; also used to describe Afrikaners.

Union of South Africa

The 1920 name give to the British colony that integrated British and Afrikaner colonists after the Boer Wars.

GEAR

The 1996 liberal macroeconomic structural adjustment plan that moved the ANC toward a more market-friendly political policy.

apartheid

The Afrikaner-dominated racist authoritarian regime in South Africa that was in power from 1948 to 1994.

ANC

The _____ has stood for racial and gender equality and a strong state role in the expansion of economic opportunities for nonwhites, but it has also embraced property rights to provide jobs, education, and social services to the much poorer black majority. As such, its ideology is unclear, encompassing a mixture of social democratic and liberal views, a lingering sense of militancy, and an emphasis on unity. The ____ increased its share of the vote in each of the first three democratic elections, but saw its share of the vote decrease slightly in 2009.

president

The _____ may also call new elections. If he wishes to dissolve the National Assembly, a majority of the lower house must support the dissolution and three years must have passed since it was first elected. The _______ is unable to call snap elections in other parliamentary systems.

Afrikaans

The language of South Africa's Dutch settlers (Afrikaners).

ANC

The overwhelming preponderance of ____ power raises concerns. Some fear the party has so easily embraced democracy after its long struggle in part because the party has done so well. If the ____ were to face losing power, it might not look upon the democratic process so favorably. These concerns were heightened by Mbeki's tenure in office, as his rhetoric and that of the ____ grew increasingly intolerant of those who challenge it.

Democratic Alliance

The overwhelming presence of the ANC in parliament dwarfs the opposition parties. Among them is the ________ ______, successor to the old Progressive Federal party. -Primarily liberal, favoring a small state, individual freedoms, privatization of state-run firms, and greater devolution of power to local governments. -In the 2004 elections, the ______ ______ won 12 percent of the votes and 50 seats. In the 2006 LOCAL elections, the _______ _____ beat the ANC in Cape Town (the only local municipal council not controlled by the ANC), winning about 15% of the vote nationally.

stronger

The president is ______ than the typical prime minister. Serving as head of state (speak on behalf of the nation and represent the country on the world stage), and as head of government (can exert authority over the cabinet and government policy)

Democracy

There are many signs that South Africa's political culture supports _______. According to a 2006 public opinion study, 64% were satisfied with how _____ works, and similar percent of respondents think _________ is preferable to all other systems. -support for the protection of civil liberties and minority rights -almost 70% of South Africans reject the notion of one-party rule. -they are split fairly evenly among those who believe the government is responsible for improving the well-being of the population, and those who believe that individuals are primarily responsible for themselves.

Constitutional Court

This body hears cases regarding the constitutionality of legislation on the separation of powers among the branches of government. Its eleven members serve twelve-year terms and are appointed by the president on the basis of the recommendations of a judicial commission. The commission is made up of govern and nongovernment appointees who evaluate candidates' qualifications and take racial and gender diversity into account. To date, the court has shown a tendency for activism; in 1997, it struck down the country's death penalty despite public sentiment in favor of capital punishment, and in 2002 it ruled that the government was obligated to provide treatment for persons with AIDS.

Bantustans

Tribal homelands established by the apartheid regime to deprive the black majority of South African citizenship.

United Democratic Front

UDF Unified anti-apartheid coalition created in 1983 from the major black and white opposition groups.

apartheid

Under _____, the country used the British single-member district, or plurality, system.

unitary

Unitary or federal division of power

National Council of Provinces

Upper house; 90 members are indirectly elected by the nine provincial legislatures and include the premier of each province. Each province, regardless of its size, sends ten delegates. The power of the ______ _____ depends on the type of legislation under consideration. Exists to ensure that local interests are heard at the national level, which is especially important when the provinces are distinguished by ethnicity, language, and culture.

race

Voting in South African elections is still heavily influenced by _____. In the 1999 elections, 95% of blacks voted for the ANC, Inkatha, or other predominantly black parties, while 81% of whites supported the DA or other mostly white parties. Only colored and Indian voters more evenly split their votes among black and white parties (40% of coloreds and 34% of Indians backed white parties).

Zuma

When the Scorpions brought corruption charges against then former vice president _____, which led to his firing, his supporters claimed that the Scorpions were merely attempting to limit opposition within the ANC. A biter political rivalry and turf war broke out between the police and the Scorpions. Despite widespread public opposition in 2008, ______'s supporters passed legislation that reintegrated the Scorpions into the police force effectively disbanding the unit.

Afrikaners

White South Africans who speak Afrikaans and are descendants of the Dutch, French, and German colonists.

colored

Widely used term in South Africa to describe citizens of mixed race, largely concentrated in and around Capetown.

low

With the exception of political protest, public activism remains ____ in South Africa. Civic and political participation was among the lowest in the region.

Congress of the People

Zuma's rise to the leadership of the ANC, and his ability to force Mbeki's resignation, prompted the created of the _____ __ ___ _____, a breakaway party led by Mosiuoa Lekota, a former defense minister under Mbeki.

Helen Zille

_____ _____, a liberal journalist during apartheid and the white mayor of Cape Town, became DA leader in 2007. Under her, the DA has become an increasingly outspoken opposition to the ANC. Public support for the DA has grown since the 1994 elections, but its primary base of support remains the white and mixed-race population. To become a viable challenger to the ANC, it will have to broaden this base dramatically. In 2006, only 3% of South Africans said they identified with the DA. In 2009, the DA increased its votes to over 16% and won control of Western Cape Province (the only one not controlled by the ANC).

COPE

_____ has the potential of becoming the first genuine black opposition party to the ANC, but in the 2009 elections it was hurt by internal divisions and lack of funds. Despite these problems, _____ was able to win over 7% of the vote and thirty seats in the legislature, making it South Africa's third largest political party. Its success, along with that of the Democratic Alliance, deprived the ANC of a two-thirds majority in the lower house, weakening the ANC's ability to amend the constitution and pass some types of legislation.

Jacob Zuma

______ _____ is the most prominent Zulu politician, and has been the leader of the ANC left. Unlike the scholarly Mbeki, _____ grew up poor and received no formal education. He became involved in the ANC in the 1960s, and was sentenced to ten years in prison in 1963 (served time at Robben Island with Nelson Mandela). After his release ______ _____ became a top ANC leader in exile. After the return of democracy, ____ quickly rose within the ANC hierarchy, culminating in his 1997 appointment as executive Deputy President (Mbeki's number two).

Zuma

______ has strong support among South Africa's labor unions, among Zulus, and generally among those frustrated with the pace of change under Mandela and Mbeki. Unlike the former two mentioned, ____ is considered an economic populist who is less likely to continue the pro-business and pro-growth economic policies he pursued by the ANC to date.

Provinces

also have limited power to levy taxes, giving them financial autonomy.

United Democratic Front

antiapartheid created in 1983 protests, strikes, boycotts banned in 1988 along with the largest trade union confederation

proportional representation

electoral system for lower house

Thabo Mbeki

forced to resign as president in 2008 after he failed to win reelection to the ANC leadership. He was replaced by Kgalema Motlanthe, caretaker president who served until the 2009 general elections. As is the case in all parliamentary systems, South Africa's head of government serves at the behest of his political party and can be replaced by the party at any time. "aloof and intellectual"

Zuma

in 2005, ______ was charged with raping a young woman in his home whom he knew to be HIV-positive, but claimed the relationship was consensual and that he showered afterwards to reduce his risk of contracting HIV, infuriating many South Africans. That year, he was fired after he was accused of corruption and racketeering in a government arms procurement scandal. He claimed the charges were politically motivated.

Provinces

main geographic subunits

ANC

main opposition party to apartheid

Inkatha Freedom Party

played an ambiguous role in apartheid and post-apartheid politics. It was founded in 1975 by Zulu chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, challenged apartheid institutions but also participated in local government in the KwaZulu "homeland," one of the remote areas createdto remove blacks from desirable areas and deprive them of basic citizenship. During the 1980s, animosity grew between the ______ ______ ______ and the ANC: the ANC saw them as having been co-opted by the government, while the _____ ______ _____ viewed the ANC as dominated by ethnic Xhosas who did not represent Zulu interests. The animosity soon erupted into violence, which was abetted by the apartheid regime as a way to weaken both sides.

Legislative-executive system

prime ministerial

President

the chief executive of South Africa. like a typical prime minister in that he is chosen from the National Assembly, the lower house of legislature, by its members and can be removed by a vote of no confidence. Yet, there is no division between the head of state and head of government, as is found in most parliamentary systems, so the South African ______ serves in both capacities Like most prime ministers, he chooses a cabinet of ministers, signs or vetoes legislation presented by the National Assembly, and can refer legislation to the Constitutional Court if necessary.

F. W. de Klerk

used his unblemished credentials as a National Party stalwart to convince NP die-hards to accept the transition. Convinced Afrikaners that their interests would be safeguarded.

Soweto

A township created during apartheid to house blacks who were forcibly removed from Johannesburg.

African National Congress

ANC

African Union

AU An organization of African nations pursuing greater political and economic integration across the continent.

Voortrekkers

Afrikaner pioneers who migrated into South Africa's interior to escape British colonists.

New National Party

Aside from the four main political parties, few actors show much influence in South African politics. The now defunct National Party, which created apartheid and ran the country for over four decades, tried unsuccessfully to recast itself as a multiracial party and renamed itself the ____ ________ ____.

Black Economic Empowerment

BEE South Africa's affirmative action program that aims to create a new class of black owners and management through a series of quotas and targets.

black consciousness movement

Beeko? died in prison. But the government said he jumped out of his second story prison windows and landed on his head; in reality, he was beaten to death by prison guards. "we will not be taught by the language of our oppressors." "Let's understand who we are as Black South Africans, let's talk about ideas of how we can end apartheid." Instead of random outbursts by the ANC, these were organized protests, such as labor strikes. Maybe we can shut down the industrial sector. It becomes to be a threat, so the leaders were arrested in the 1960s. This movement was successful at convincing people, "hey, we're not going to attend Afrikaner schools. leads to a growing ethnic identify and a willingness to engage in labor actions, in strikes, to protest apartheid.

nine

Below the national level, South Africa is divided into ____ provinces, each with its own elected assembly. Members are elected for a term of five years (with elections for the national provincial legislatures occurring simultaneously) and, in turn, elect a premier to serve as the province's chief executive. The provincial assemblies have their own constitutions, pass legislation, and send delegates to the National Council of Provinces.

Congress of the People

COPE

Congress of the People

COPE A new South African political party formed by defectors from the ANC.

Congress of South African Trade Unions

COSATU

Group Areas Act

Centerpiece of apartheid legislation that divided South Africans into four racial categories and required strict segregation of housing along racial lines.

Constitutional Court

Chief judicial body

Dutch Reformed Church

Conservative protestant church that has historically been central to Afrikaner culture.

corrupt

Current Issues: Local governments are viewed as particularly _____ (almost half of respondents view them this way). While a quarter of respondents view the president and the legislature as _____.

Helen Zille

Current leader of South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance. (ANC lost control of Western Cape Province, and she became premier)

Jacob Zuma

Current president.

African National Congress

Currently the dominant party, led the struggle against white rule starting in 1912. During their long period underground and in exile, it developed an ideology strongly influenced by Marxism, favoring the nationalization of land and industry. Economic equality was seen as a necessary mechanism in overcoming racial discrimination. -cultivated relations with Communist countries, such as the Soviet Union and China -and at home formed an alliance with the much smaller South African Community Party (which still operates within the framework of the ANC)

Democratic Alliance

DA South Africa's main opposition party.

apartheid

During ____, few political parties existed, and the National Party (NP) dominated politics from 1948-1994. The main opposition was the weak Progressive Federal Party, which opposed _____ laws and favored multiracial democracy within a federal framework.

Boer Wars

Epic battle between the Boers and the British that culminated in the defeat of the Afrikaners and their integration into the Union of South Africa.

Great Trek

Epic migration of Afrikaners into the interior of South Africa to escape British colonization.

Scorpions

Faced with growing public concern over corruption, in 1999 President Mbeki established an elite crime-fighting unit: the Directorate of Special Operations, also known as the ________. Motto: "loved by the people, feared by the criminals" -became popular and highly effective, achieving conviction rates much higher than the regular police force. The _________ ran into trouble, however, when the force began to investigate corruption within the ANC government.

apartheid period

For most of the ________ _______, South Africa had a bicameral parliament and a prime minister, with a ceremonial president as head of state. Since 1994, it has been transformed into one similar to other democracies, with a bicameral parliament and a Constitutional Court.

mutually hurting stalemate

Furthermore, stalemate is supposed to harm both sides, which suggests that the players will not merely cease hostilities but need to invest actively in altering the stalemate. Zartman's concept of "mutually hurting stalemate" amounts to a necessary but not sufficient condition for describing a conflict as "ripe for resolution". A hurting stalemate indicates the point where the conflicting players no longer perceive the continuation of open hostilities as a beneficial strategy. The decision to stop fighting necessarily entails a simultaneous decision to begin co-operating. In a situation of hurting stalemate, unilateral actions merely cease to be a viable strategy - they do not preclude the emergence of other non-co-operative interactions.

Growth, Employment, and Redistribution Program

GEAR

Inkatha Freedom Party

IFP Small Zulu political party that is currently party of the opposition to the ANC.

2007

In _____, Zuma easily upset Mbeki in elections for the ANC presidency (he won two thirds of the internal party vote). This virtually guaranteed Zuma the presidency. The prominence of Zuma points to another issue: the dominance of the ANC and the weakness of opposition. This raises concerns about possible abuses of power. The ANC is generally acted with caution to avoid antagonizing opposition parties and South Africa's various ethnic and religious minority groups. South Africa has YET to experience political alternation. The dominance of a single party may threaten democracy in the long run.

1985

In _____, legalized mixed marriages.

positively

In general, however, the ANC's record in office has been ________ evaluated by most South Africans, who give it high scores for managing the economy, improving health care, and promoting racial equality. They have been most critical of the ANC's record on job creation, crime reduction, and reduction of the gap between rich and poor.

apartheid

In the aftermath of ______, however, civil society in South Africa has remained weak for a number of reasons. 1. the legacy of the past: having had civil society effectively stifled for decades, South Africans have found it hard to create civic values. 2. Problem within the ANC itself. During the transition period, the ANC relied heavily on a variety of NGO (antiapartheid nongovernmental organizations) to build public support. After 1994, the ANC co-opted many of these formerly autonomous groups, bringing them under its direction. This too, has stunted the emergence of an independent civil society.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Anti-apartheid activist and leader of South Africa's Anglican church who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.