Framing the Race in South Africa: The Political Origins of Racial Census Elections (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)

"Post-apartheid South African elections have borne an unmistakable racial imprint: Africans vote for one set of parties, whites support a different set of parties, and with few exceptions, there is no crossover voting between groups. These voting tendencies have solidified the dominance of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) over South African politics and turned South African elections into 'racial censuses.' This is book explores the political sources of these outcomes. It argues that although the beginnings of these patterns lie in South Africa's past, in the effects apartheid had on voters' beliefs about race and destiny and the reputations parties forged during this period, the endurance of the census reflects the ruling party's ability to use the powers of office to prevent the opposition from evolving away from its apartheid-era party label. By keeping key opposition parties white, the ANC has rendered them powerless, solidifying its hold on power in spite of an increasingly restive and dissatisfied electorate"-- Provided by publisher This Book Explores The Political Sources Of Racially Segmented Elections And Anc Dominance In South Africa--provided By Publisher. Post-apartheid South African Elections Have Borne An Unmistakable Racial Imprint: Africans Vote For One Set Of Parties, Whites Support A Different Set Of Parties, And With Few Exceptions, There Is No Crossover Voting Between Groups. These Voting Tendencies Have Solidified The Dominance Of The Ruling African National Congress (anc) Over South African Politics And Turned South African Elections Into ,racial Censuses..̮this Book Explores The Political Sources Of These Outcomes. It Argues That Although The Beginning Of These Patterns Lie In South Africa's Past, In The Effects Apartheid Had On Voters,̥ Beliefs About Race And Destiny And The Reputations Parties Forged During This Period, The Endurance Of The Census Reflects The Ruling Party's Ability To Use The Powers Of Office To Prevent The Opposition From Evolving Away From Its Apartheid-era Party Label. By Keeping Key Opposition Parties White, The Anc Has Rendered Them Powerless, Solidifying Its Hold On Power In Spite Of An Increasingly Restive And Dissatisfied Electorate--provided By Publisher. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Introduction; 2. Voters; 3. The 1994 Campaign; 4. The 1999 Campaign; 5. The 2004 Campaigns; 6. Can A Leopard Change Its Spots? Candidate Demographics And Party Label Change; 7. Why So Slow? The Political Challenges Of Candidate Transformation; 8. Negative Framing Strategies And African Opposition Parties; 9. Conclusion: South Africa In Comparative Perspective. Karen E. Ferree. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "This book explores the political sources of racially segmented elections and ANC dominance in South Africa"-- "Post-apartheid South African elections have borne an unmistakable racial imprint: Africans vote for one set of parties, whites support a different set of parties, and with few exceptions, there is no crossover voting between groups. These voting tendencies have solidified the dominance of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) over South African politics and turned South African elections into ,racial censuses..̮This is book explores the political sources of these outcomes. It argues that although the beginnin of these patterns lie in South Africa's past, in the effects apartheid had on voters,̥ beliefs about race and destiny and the reputations parties forged during this period, the endurance of the census reflects the ruling party's ability to use the powers of office to prevent the opposition from evolving away from its apartheid-era party label. By keeping key opposition parties white, the ANC has rendered them powerless, solidifying its hold on power in spite of an increasingly restive and dissatisfied electorate"-- Post-apartheid South African elections have borne an unmistakable racial imprint: Africans vote for one set of parties, whites support a different set of parties, and with few exceptions, there is no crossover voting between groups. These voting tendencies have solidified the dominance of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) over South African politics and turned South African elections into racial censuses. This book explores the political sources of these outcomes. It argues that although the beginnings of these patterns lie in South Africa s past, in the effects apartheid had on voters beliefs about race and destiny and the reputations parties forged during this period, the endurance of the census reflects the ruling party s ability to use the powers of office to prevent the opposition from evolving away from its apartheid-era party label. By keeping key opposition parties white, the ANC has rendered them powerless, solidifying its hold on power in spite of an increasingly restive and dissatisfied electorate." Cover......Page 1 Frontmatter......Page 2 Contents......Page 10 List of Tables......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 14 1 - Introduction......Page 18 2 - Voters......Page 49 3 - The 1994 Campaigns......Page 82 4 - The 1999 Campaigns......Page 99 5 - The 2004 Campaigns......Page 124 6 - Can a Leopard Change Its Spots? Candidate Demographics and Party Label Change......Page 158 7 - Why So Slow? The Political Challenges of Candidate Transformation for Opposition Parties......Page 180 8 - Negative Framing Strategies and African Opposition Parties......Page 210 9 - Conclusion: South Africa in Comparative Perspective......Page 239 References......Page 260 Index......Page 280 Titles in the series......Page 310