Political engagement and opinions of youth in post-apartheid South Africa: a qualitative study
SOURCE: Politikon
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
TITLE AUTHOR(S): E.Bornman, J.Harvey, H.Janse van Vuuren, B.Kekana, M.F.Matuludi, B.Mdakane, L.Ramphele
KEYWORDS: DEMOCRACY, VOTING, YOUTH
DEPARTMENT: Equitable Education and Economies (IED)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 12054
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/16129
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/16129
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
TITLE AUTHOR(S): E.Bornman, J.Harvey, H.Janse van Vuuren, B.Kekana, M.F.Matuludi, B.Mdakane, L.Ramphele
KEYWORDS: DEMOCRACY, VOTING, YOUTH
DEPARTMENT: Equitable Education and Economies (IED)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 12054
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/16129
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/16129
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Since the advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994, a new generation of 'Born Frees' have been able to vote. With a worldwide decrease in formal political engagement and a rise in alternative forms of political participation among the youth, this qualitative study investigates political engagement among youth from the Pretoria area. Six focus groups were conducted from 2014 to 2018. The results indicate that post-apartheid youth are not a monolithic group. Some youth were enthusiastic and regarded voting as a rite of passage to adulthood. Voting was, furthermore, perceived as a valued right, an obligation due to those who struggled against apartheid, and a way to influence society. However, some black participants voiced apathy and/or disillusionment with the current (older) political leadership and parties. Not voting was perceived as a conscious act of political opposition. Conclusions are drawn about the implications for the South African democracy.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Democracy South Africa: evaluating the 1999 election
- Voting in action: focus group and workshop findings
- What drives South Africans to participate in local municipal elections
- Punching below their weight: young South Africans' recent voting patterns
- Geography and voting: the growth of urban opposition two decades after South African democratisation
- Suicidal ideation and associated factors among students aged 13-15 years in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, 2007-2013
- Who is in the driving seat?: development cooperation and democracy
- The contested state of democracy in South Africa
- Democracy in Africa: fragile and necessary but uncertain
- Empowerment and transformation in South Africa
- Democracy in Africa: moving beyond a difficult legacy
- Ten-year review presidential project: nation building and reconciliation: the public service commission: the public protector
- Book review: Legum, C. (2001) Africa since independence. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press.105pp. & Abrahamsen, R. Disciplining democracy: development discourse and good governance in Africa. London: Zed Books. 168pp. & Salih, M. (2001) African democracies and African politics. London: Pluto Press. 234pp
- Fragments of democracy: nationalism, development and the state in Africa
- Reconstruction and the reciprocal other: the philosophy and practice of "Ubuntu" and democracy in African society
- Kwazulu-Natal programme for survivors of violence
- Democracy and governance review: Mandela's legacy 1994-1999
- Consolidating democracy and governance in South Africa
- Race and democratisation in South Africa: some reflections
- Public participation in South Africa as we enter the 21st century