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Identity politics in South Africa: the Interplay between populism, polarisation and radicalism
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613962374217728 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Bossau, Haylene Eugenie |
| author2 | Steenekamp, C. L. |
| author_browse | Bossau, Haylene Eugenie Steenekamp, C. L. |
| author_facet | Steenekamp, C. L. Bossau, Haylene Eugenie |
| author_sort | Bossau, Haylene Eugenie |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131589 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:27.789Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131589 Identity politics in South Africa: the Interplay between populism, polarisation and radicalism Bossau, Haylene Eugenie Steenekamp, C. L. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. Identity politics -- South Africa Group identity -- Political aspects -- South Africa Political parties -- South Africa Populism -- South Africa South Africa -- Population South Africa -- Race relations Polarization (Social science) -- Political aspects Democracy -- South Africa South Africa -- Politics and government Afrobarometer Institute for Democracy Radicalism -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: 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. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die steun vir radikale populistiese partye wys dat identiteitspolitiek al hoe belangriker word. Hierdie partye verskil ideologies van ander meer sentristiese partye en verteenwoordig die identiteitsgroepe wat ander politieke partye beskou word om te ignoreer. Die toenemende steun vir hierdie partye kan ‘n aanduiding wees dat hulle ‘n leemte aanpak, soos ‘n krisis van verteenwoordiging. Hierdie styging in populisme, polarisasie en radikalisme in Suid-Afrika het potensieel negatiewe implikasies vir Suid-Afrika se demokratisering. Hierdie verskynsels word gekoppel aan ‘n groter waarskynlikheid van ondersteuning vir ondemokratiese regimetipes. Hierdie kommer word vererger met dalende vertroue in instellings en instrumentele ondersteuning vir demokrasie in Suid Afrika. Om hierdie wisselwerking tussen populisme, polarisasie en radikalisme te verstaan was die sentrale doel van hierdie studie. ‘n Analitiese instrument is ontwikkel om populisme, polarisasie en radikalisme in Suid Afrika te meet, onder die politieke elite en ondersteuners van twee politieke partye aan verskillende kante van die links-regs politieke spektrum, die Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) en die Vryheidsfront Plus (VF Plus). Meer spesifiek het hierdie studie identiteitspolitiek in Suid Afrika in twee fases ondersoek. Die eerste fase van navorsing het ‘n kwalitatiewe ontleding van populisme, polarisasie en radikalisme binne die EFF en VF Plus deur die ontleding van hul partydokementasie tussen 2015 en 2021 behels. Die tweede fase navorsing het beskrywende kwantitatiewe ontleding van populisme, polarisasie en radikalisme onder die EFF en VF Plus ondersteuners in 2015 en 2021, deur middel van die Afrobarometer. Terwyl die ontleding in twee fases geskei is, kan die retoriek van die politieke elite die sienings van die publiek beïnvloed. Politieke partye word ook deur die sienings van die publiek beïnvloed omdat hulle afhanlik is van populere steun. Die bevindinge het getoon dat die EFF en die VF Plus populistiese en polariserende retoriek gebruik het, wat ook duidelik was in die menings van hul ondersteuners. EFF en VF Plus ondersteuners het wantroue in ander mense en van elite-instellings, soos die media, aangedui. Radikalisme was ook algemeen in die retoriek van die EFF en VF Plus. Dit is weerspieël in die menings van hul ondersteuners, wat toenemende steun vir ondemokratiese regime-alternatiewe aangedui het. Daar word getoon dat die verskynsels in wisselwerking tree en mekaar versterk, en sodoende die negatiwe implikasies vererger. Om populisme, polarisasie en radikalisme saam te bestudeer, binne die teoretiese raamwerk van identiteitspolitiek, voeg nuwe insig by deur die wisselwerking uit te lig. Masters 2025-01-28T10:24:01Z 2025-01-28T10:24:01Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131589 en Stellenbosch University vii, 113 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Identity politics -- South Africa Group identity -- Political aspects -- South Africa Political parties -- South Africa Populism -- South Africa South Africa -- Population South Africa -- Race relations Polarization (Social science) -- Political aspects Democracy -- South Africa South Africa -- Politics and government Afrobarometer Institute for Democracy Radicalism -- South Africa UCTD Bossau, Haylene Eugenie Identity politics in South Africa: the Interplay between populism, polarisation and radicalism |
| title | Identity politics in South Africa: the Interplay between populism, polarisation and radicalism |
| title_full | Identity politics in South Africa: the Interplay between populism, polarisation and radicalism |
| title_fullStr | Identity politics in South Africa: the Interplay between populism, polarisation and radicalism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identity politics in South Africa: the Interplay between populism, polarisation and radicalism |
| title_short | Identity politics in South Africa: the Interplay between populism, polarisation and radicalism |
| title_sort | identity politics in south africa the interplay between populism polarisation and radicalism |
| topic | Identity politics -- South Africa Group identity -- Political aspects -- South Africa Political parties -- South Africa Populism -- South Africa South Africa -- Population South Africa -- Race relations Polarization (Social science) -- Political aspects Democracy -- South Africa South Africa -- Politics and government Afrobarometer Institute for Democracy Radicalism -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131589 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bossauhayleneeugenie identitypoliticsinsouthafricatheinterplaybetweenpopulismpolarisationandradicalism |