Democracy and apartheid : political theory, comparative politics and the modern South African state

Select an Action

Title:

Author:

Butler, Anthony, 1964-

ISBN:

9780333665930

9780312216962

Personal Author:

Butler, Anthony, 1964-

Publication Information:

New York : St. Martin's Press, 1998.

Physical Description:

212p. ; 22 cm.

Contents:

1. Introduction -- 2. A Periodization of South African History -- 3. Historical Debates and Political Analysis -- 4. Democracy and Apartheid -- 5. Analysing Democratic Transitions -- 6. Political Science and the End of Apartheid -- 7. The Failure of Political Science -- 8. Conclusions.

Abstract:

South Africa's first universal franchise election in April 1994 attracted unprecedented international attention. Viewed as one further triumph in the global spread of democracy, the transition was widely hailed as miraculous. In this book Anthony Butler examines South African experiences to cast doubt on the celebratory attitude to democracy propagated by its champions. Butler argues that democracy can also have a malign role in the modern state. He attacks the myth that democracy ended apartheid, and shows that democratic practices themselves contributed to its evils. The author explores weaknesses in political science as a discipline, and ends with an investigation of the human significance of the modern election. This book will be essential reading for specialists in South Africa and will appeal to political theorists, students of comparative politics and historians.

Subject Term:

Democracy -- South Africa.

Apartheid -- South Africa.

Elections -- South Africa.

Democracy.

Democratization.

Geographic Term:

South Africa -- Politics and government -- 20th century.

Copies:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168015680180	320.96809049 B985D 1998	1	Searching... Unknown
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168023664820	320.96809049 B985D 1998	2	Searching... Unknown
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168023674670	320.96809049 B985D 1998	3	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

South Africa's 1994 election was widely hailed around the world as miraculous. In this book, Anthony Butler examines South African experiences to cast doubt on this celebratory attitude to democracy. Contemporary political analysis highlights the benefits that democracy can sometimes bring. Butler, by contrast, argues that democracy can be malign. He attacks the myth that democracy ended apartheid, and shows that democratic practices themselves contributed to its evils. The author also explores weaknesses in political science as a discipline. This book will be essential reading for specialists in South Africa, and will appeal to political theorists, students of comparative politics, and historians.