The politics of violence and populism in post-colonial democracy: The role of political society in South Africa

Thomas A. Koelble

Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Democracy and Democratization from WZB Berlin Social Science Center

Abstract: This paper argues that current levels of violence and populism in post-colonial spaces such as South Africa are a consequence of a socio-history of violent dispossession, exploitation and impoverishment and is perpetuated by the continuation of the socio-economic and political conditions rooted in that history of exceptional violence, inequality and injustice. A switch in the political system does not reduce violence by itself. The disposition towards violence can only be shifted by a fundamental shift away from the economics and politics of the apartheid era. Since such a shift is unlikely to occur under current conditions, the perpetuation of violence and populist politics are likely to remain key features and consti-tutive elements of post-apartheid democracy.

Date: 2018
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-afr, nep-his, nep-pke and nep-pol
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:wzbdsc:spv2018102

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