Framing the democratic narrative: local and national voting patterns in South Africa

• Published in: Commonwealth & comparative politics Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 56 - 75
• Main Authors: Holmes, Carolyn E., Shoup, Brian D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.02.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Africa; African National Congress; Apartheid; Cities; Dominance; dominant parties; Elections; Elites; Frame analysis; International political economy; issue framing; Legislative Bodies; Legislatures; Local elections; Narratives; Nationalist movements; Personality; Political Parties; Post-apartheid era; Ruling parties; South Africa; symbolic versus policy framing; Votes; Voting; South Africa

While it is sometimes characterised as a dominant party, South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) has failed to demonstrate consistent dominance in provincial and municipal elections. It is argued that this incongruence is related to the ways in which the national political imaginary is s...