Institutionalizing Elites

Political Elite Formation and Change in the Kwazulu-Natal Provincial Legislature
Erscheinungsjahr 2011
ISBN: 978-90-04-21922-9
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 23, 324 Seiten, Format (B × H): 157 mm x 236 mm, Gewicht: 544 g

Reihe: Afrika-Studiecentrum Series

In this book, Francis expands and redefines the approach to the problematic of a comprehensive framework for the study of political elites through an interrogation of political elite formation in the African context of the Provincial Legislature of KwaZulu-Natal. The result is an empirically rich and detailed study of the realization, accumulation and exercise of institutionalized political power. Political elite agency shapes, enables and undermines political institutions and is dependent on a multiplicity of currencies including social and political capital and patterns of culture, respect and institutional capacity. Studies of political elites must now consider not whether elite values, attitudes and patterns of political etiquette penetrate political institutions, but rather how they do so.

Zielgruppe

All those interested in political elites, institutionalized political power, african politics, democratic elite theory, the history and politics of KwaZulu-Natal, democratic transitions and countries recovering from acute political conflict.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Francis, Suzanne

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Soziale Gruppen & Klassen
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Systeme Politische Führung
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politische Kultur Politische Soziologie und Psychologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Sozialisation, Soziale Interaktion, Sozialer Wandel

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Contents

List of graphs and tables ix
Acknowledgements x
Glossary and abbreviations xi

INTRODUCTION 1
1 A THEORY AND METHODOLOGY FOR THE STUDY OF ELITES 10
The context of KwaZulu-Natal – methodological problems 18
Methodology of the study 22

2 HISTORICAL CONTEXTS AND POLITICAL ELITE FORMATION IN KWAZULU AND NATAL 32
Defining political ideas and political spaces 33
The roots of political elite formation 34
Political elite formation during ‘the struggle’ 41
Contested elite formation during the transition 57
Key factors and contexts in elite formation prior to 1994 71

3 SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EMERGING POLITICAL ELITE 73
Social characteristics among the political elite 75
Social clusters of the political elite 131
Conclusion 133

4 POLITICAL, ORGANISATIONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BACKGROUND OF AN EMERGING POLITICAL ELITE 135
Initial political involvement 138
Extent of former political involvement: Veterans and newcomers 144
Types of former political involvement 147
Patterns of party political identification 161
Conclusion 173

5 INTRA-PARTY DYNAMICS AND POLITICAL ELITE CIRCULATION 175
The structure of opportunities within the provincial legislature 177
Intra-party dynamics in the IFP and ANC 179
Recruitment and circulation 184
Volatility in political elite circulation 196
Conclusion 200

6 INTER-PARTY DYNAMICS, COALITION POLITICS AND CROSS PARTY ELITE BONDING 202
The first term: Strengthening institutionalizing rules and procedures 203
The 1999 IFP-ANC coalition: Institutionalizing certainty 210
The IFP-DA alliance: Syncretic relationships 236
Conclusion 247

7 THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY 249
Institutional factors that define the institutional capacity of political elites 251
The provincial legislature and the committee system 255
Case study: The National Council of Provinces Standing Committee in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature 264
Streams of political elites: Policy, politics and institutional capacity 274
Conclusion 283

CONCLUSION: THE POLITICAL ELITE OF KWAZULU-NATAL 285
Theoretical development 295

References 297
Index 313

Über Autor(innen)

Francis, Suzanne
Suzanne Francis, PhD. (2009) in Political Science, is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Politics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She carries out extensive empirical research, writes and publishes in the area of political elites, value systems and institutions in Africa.