Remaking the ANC: Party change in South Africa and the Global South

Although the ANC has been in power now for twenty years and looks set to continue in office for some time yet, its hold on power is neither permanent nor assured, and sometime in the future it is safe to say it will be voted out of office. This is the fate faced by all liberation movements that have won power at the ballot box. The Indian National Congress, which came to office after independence in 1947, is the prime example, but such loss of power has been experienced by other political parties in the Global South. Being voted out of office is not the only fate awaiting political parties. Popular disaffection, loss of loyalty, splits and schisms, factionalism, all affect parties and in turn inspire them to change and adapt, meet the challenges or try to avert the loss of support. Yet we know little about how and why parties change in the Global South. This book explores various dimensions of internal organisational reform by examining parties from around the South. Several chapters investigate the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa, one of several ‘dominant parties’ that have begun to lose their shine. Other chapters look at the Chinese Communist Party; the Indian National Congress; the Workers’ Party (PT) in Brazil; UMNO in Malaysia; the Kuomintang (KMT) in Taiwan; and Mexico’s PRI. The authors explore such issues as the uses and abuses of technology and social media; changes to candidate selection, membership, and policy deliberation processes; discipline and political education programmes; party-to-party learning; factional politics; and the effects of state power on party management. For all those interested in knowing how the ANC might adapt – or die – as well as those with a special interest in political parties and party systems, this book provides the answers.