Browsing by Author "Bossau, Haylene Eugenie"

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    Identity Politics in South Africa: The Interplay between Populism, Polarisation and Radicalism
    (Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Bossau, Haylene Eugenie; Steenekamp, C. L.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
    The support for radical populist parties shows that identity politics is gaining significance. These parties are ideologically distinct from other more centrist parties and represent the interest and identity groups that other political parties are perceived as ignoring. In this way the rising support for these parties may be indicative that they are filling a void, such as a crisis of representation. However, the rise in populism, polarisation and radicalism in South Africa has potentially negative implications for South Africa’s democratisation as these phenomena are linked with a greater likelihood of support for undemocratic regime types. This concern is compounded with declining trust in institutions and instrumental support for democracy in South Africa. Understanding this interplay and how populism, polarisation and radicalism interact in South Africa was the central aim of this study. Thus, an analytical tool was developed to measure populism, polarisation and radicalism in South Africa amongst the political elite and supporters of two political parties on different sides of the political left-right spectrum, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus). More specifically, this study investigated identity politics in South Africa in two phases. The first phase of research included a qualitative analysis of populism, polarisation and radicalism within the EFF and FF Plus through critically assessing their public discourse and party documentation between 2015 and 2021. The second phase of research included descriptive quantitative analysis of populism, polarisation and radicalism amongst the EFF and FF Plus supporters in 2015 and 2021, by means of the Afrobarometer. While the analysis was separated in two phases, the rhetoric of the political elite can influence the views of the public. Likewise, political parties are also affected by the views of the public as they rely on popular support. The findings showed that the EFF and the FF Plus used populist and polarising rhetoric which was also evident in the views of their supporters. EFF and FF Plus supporters indicated distrust of others and of elite institutions, such as the media. Moreover, radicalism was also prevalent in the rhetoric of the EFF and FF Plus. This was reflected in the views of their supporters, who indicated increasing support for non-democratic regime alternatives. The phenomena are shown to interact and reinforce each other, thus exacerbating the negative implications. Studying populism, polarisation and radicalism together, within the theoretical framework of identity politics, adds nuance by highlighting this interplay.