The Role of Coalition Governments as Sustainable Democracy Enhancing in South Africa

Abstract

The aim of this study is to discuss the nature of coalition government and its role in strengthening the norms of democracy in South Africa. Over the past two decades, South Africa has continued to focus on the progressive development of the country's political institutions under the ethos of the democratic principle of coalition government. This chapter also discusses the various South African governments' roles in the establishment of democratization in the country. The research method used in this study is the qualitative approach to search for actual research output. The empirical method would also involve discussing research gaps on the nature and characteristics of coalition government for better governance. Moreover, this study will answer the following research questions: How is the coalition government in South Africa paving the way for the healthiest democracy? There is the second question: Why are the people of South Africa electing a coalition government in the country? This study also uses the third wave of democratization theory of Samuel P. Huntington, which contributed to the democratic transition and the establishment of democratic governments in the late 1980s in developing countries, namely in Africa, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe. Apart from Samuel P. Huntington's idea on democratization, this study also utilises other modern democratic theories to discuss South Africa's democratization process under the coalition government. Finally, the chapter outlines how political alliances are conceptualized and operationalized for the democratization of South Africa.