Political Opportunism: Populism as a New Political Tactic in South Africa

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Abstract

In post-apartheid South Africa, one of the right-wing populist parties of the continent thrives: the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). Its right-wing posture may be tied to its rhetoric which often speaks to the “common people”, opposition to established institutions and display of anti-elitist sentiments. The EFF's ambition, as captured in its policy proposals, seeks to represent the interest of the majority black Africans against an elite, understood as both top officials of the African National Congress (ANC) and white capitalists. Substantively, the party highlights expropriation of land without compensation, justice over reconciliation, and has strategically aligned itself with wider social protests and nationwide strikes. For this reason, some observers have expressed concern that the party's political tactics pose a serious threat to the country's liberal democracy. To this end, the central questions of this contribution are straightforward: is populism a new phenomenon in contemporary South Africa, and why are South African voters hypnotised by populist appeals?.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAnnals of the International Institute of Sociology
EditorsEdwin Etieyibo, Obvious Katsaura, Mucha Musemwa
PublisherBrill Academic Publishers
Pages117-140
Number of pages24
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Publication series

NameAnnals of the International Institute of Sociology
Volume14
ISSN (Print)1568-1548

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