Publication: Comparative Politics
URL: https://www.sravpol.ru/jour/article/view/1718
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46272/2221-3279-2024-1-16-2
The article presents an analysis of the preparation and results of the parliamentary elections held in the Republic of South Africa on May 29, 2024. For the first time in the 30 years of democratic South Africa, the ruling party, the African National Congress, failed to win a majority of the popular vote. This vote was a turning point, suggesting that the ANC's period of leadership may soon be coming to an end.At the same time, the study showed that the decline in the number of supporters is not only a problem for the ANC, but also for other political actors.
The purpose of this paper is to identify the reasons why the ANC lost the support of some voters. The author examines in detail the main stages of preparation for the vote and analyzes the election campaigns of various political parties: the ANC; opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance; and new political movements that participated in the elections for the first time. Particular attention is paid to party financing, the organization of political actions, and voter mobilization strategies. Other factors that may have influenced the outcome of the vote, such as the sudden emergence of the party of former South African president Jacob Zuma (2009-2018), are also examined.
As a result, the author of the article identifies several reasons why the ANC party lost the votes of a part of the electorate. Firstly, economic problems - high unemployment among young people. Secondly, corruption and ineffective government management on the ground. Thirdly, the changing demographic composition of the population, including the growth of a younger population not associated with the apartheid era. The article hypothesizes how the new reality will affect the formation of the state's domestic and foreign policy.
In addition, the first actions of the new official leadership of the country - the “Government of National Unity” - are considered. One of the key questions raised in the article is how the changes in domestic politics will affect the foreign policy of South Africa - a member of the BRICS group of countries and one of the main representative states of the Global South - in connection with the appointment of a new government and a new Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. The author concludes that the 2024 elections were an important event in South Africa's political life. They demonstrated that the state is undergoing significant changes that could have a major impact on its domestic and foreign policy.
