Non-racialism and the African National Congress: views from the branch

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorAnciano, Fiona.
dc.date.accessioned2021-02-03T12:35:04Z
dc.date.available2021-02-03T12:35:04Z
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractSouth Africa’s ruling party is well known as an organisation that supports the ideal of non-racialism. However, the extent to which the African National Congress (ANC) has defined and instrumentalised the concept of non-racialism is contested. This article looks at the history of non-racialism in the party and more recent interpretations by ANC leadership, before examining how non-racialism is understood, 19 years into democracy, by members of the party. Based on interviews with over 45 ANC branch members, the article describes how members, broadly speaking, have deep-seated concerns with non-racialism in the ANC and in society more generally. There is recognition from ANC branch members that race relations have significantly improved since the ANC moved into government; however, they feel not enough change has taken place and that racial tensions are impeding social cohesion and concomitant growth and progress in the country. There is division among members in regards to the efficacy and impact of the party’s racially based policies such as affirmative action as well as the manner in which race potentially influences leadership opportunities within the party. Furthermore, the article shows that there is lack of definition and direction on the part of the ANC in regards to the instrumentalisation of non-racialism, and this deficiency has negative consequences for racial cohesion in the party. The article concludes by discussing how investigations into party branches through the lens of non-racialism, highlights more deep-seated concerns about local-level party democracy and a party fractured at the grassroots.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAnciano, F. ( 2014). Non-racialism and the African National Congress: views from the branch. Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 32(1), 35-55en_US
dc.identifier.issn1469-9397
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2014.900308
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10566/5829
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis groupen_US
dc.subjectNon-racialismen_US
dc.subjectAfrican National Congressen_US
dc.subjectBranch memberen_US
dc.subjectRace relationsen_US
dc.subjectDemocracyen_US
dc.titleNon-racialism and the African National Congress: views from the branchen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Non racialism and the African National Congress views from the branch.pdf
Size:
136.11 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Research Articles (Political Studies)