THE KEY TO ONE-PARTY DOMINANCE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SELECTED STATES. By PHILLIP FREDERICK GAUTA MTIMKULU Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY In the subject POLITICAL SCIENCE at the UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG PROMOTER: PROF. A J VENTER July 2006 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To the following people: My daughter, Hloni who asked me if I would ever finish my doctorate. My colleague John G Yoh who constantly asked me how the Ared thing@ (gown), was coming. Obakeng Setsile and John Yoh for keeping me sane when the numbering of pages was driving me round the bend. My son, Puso for assisting me with the technicalities of the computer. Alexa Barnby for meticulously editing the thesis. My promoter, Prof A J Venter for his expertise and patience in guiding me. DECLARATION I declare that the thesis titled, “the key to one-party dominance: a comparative analysis of selected states,” which I completed in July 2006 is my own work and that all the sources that I have used have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. PFG Mtimkulu iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages CHAPTER 1 1 1. INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Motivation for study 1 1.2 One-party dominance debate in South Africa 2 1.3 Conceptualisation of the problem 6 1.4 The purpose of the study 10 1.5 Research method 14 1.6 Delimitation of the study 17 1.7 Structure of the study 18 CHAPTER 2 21 ASCENSION TO POWER: THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS DOMINANCE 21 Introduction 21 2.1 Sir Seretse Khama and the ascension to power of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) 22 2.1.2 Introduction 22 2.1.3 Evolution of Botswana=s political system and formation of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) 23 2.1.4 Sir Seretse Khama and the rise to power of the BDP 24 2.1.5 Sir Seretse Khama and Botswana=s road to independence 26 2.1.6 Benefit of Sir Seretse Khama=s stature to the BDP 28 2.1.7 Summary 30 2.2 The Indian National Congress (Congress) and the independence of India 31 2.2.1 Introduction 31 2.2.2 Formation of Congress 32 2.2.3 Acquiescent Congress 32 2.2.4 Gandhi and the nationalist movement 33 2.2.5 Nehru and the independence of India 36 2.2.6 Congress and the partitioning of India 38 2.2.7 Summary 40 v 2.3 Mapai and the formation of the State of Israel 41 2.3.1 Introduction 41 2.3.2 Formation of Mapai 41 2.3.3 Emergence of conflict between Arabs and Jews 42 2.3.4 Mapai and the leadership of Israel 43 2.3.5 Histadrut and Mapai 44 2.3.6 Ben-Gurion and the founding of the state of Israel 44 2.3.7 Summary 45 2.4 Catholicism and the rise to power of the Christian Democratic Party (DC) 46 2.4.1 Introduction 46 2.4.2 Formation of the DC 46 2.4.3 Fascism and World War II 47 2.4.4 Demise of Fascist rule 49 2.4.5 Emergence of the Resistance Movement 50 2.4.6 The Catholic Church, communism and the DC=s ascension to power 50 2.4.7 De Gasperi and the birth of a new political order in Italy 58 2.4.8 Summary 54 2.5 The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Sweden=s political and economic problems 55 2.5.1.Introduction 55 2.5.2 Formation of the SDP 55 2.5.3 The SDP and the labour movement 55 2.5.4 Sweden=s economic crisis and the SDP=s election victory in 1932 56 2..5.5 Summary 58 2.6. The African National Congress (ANC) ņ from a nationalist movement to a ruling party 59 2.6.1 Introduction 59 2.6.2 Formation of the ANC 60 2.6.3 The banning of the ANC 61 2.6.4 Soweto unrest and resuscitation of the ANC 62 2.6.5 The unbanning of the ANC and the beginning of negotiations 64 2.6.6 South Africa=s 1994 nonracial and democratic elections 64 vi 2.6.7 Contribution of Mandela=s leadership to the ANC=s ascension to power 65 2.6.8 Summary 67 2.7 Conclusion 68 CHAPTER 3 73 FACTORS THAT FACILITATE THE RISE TO ONE-PARTY DOMINANCE 73 Introduction 73 3.1. The BDP and the consolidation of power: 1965 ņ 1990 74 3.1.1 Introduction 74 3.1.2 Organisational strength 74 3.1.3 Support of a strong socioeconomic bloc 75 3.1.4 Penetration of society 77 3.1.5 Pragmatism 78 3.1.6 Patronage 79 3.1.7 Symbolism ņ the legacy of Sir Seretse Khama and the role of the BDP in the independence of Botswana 81 3.1.8 Electoral performance 82 3.1.9 Summary 83 3.2. Congress and the consolidation of power in India: 1952 - 1977 84 3.2.1 Introduction 84 3.2.2 Different views advanced for the dominance of Congress 84 3.2.3 Organisational strength 86 3.2.4.1 Support of a strong socioeconomic bloc ņ Indian masses 87 3.2.4.2 Support of a strong socioeconomic bloc ņ labour and commercial organisations 87 3.2.5 Penetration of society 87 3.2.6 Pragmatism 88 3.2.7 Patronage 90 3.2.8 Symbolism ņ Nehru, Congress and the nationalist movement 91 3.2.9 Electoral performance 92 3.2.10 Summary 92 vii 3.3 The Histadrut ņ vehicle behind Mapai=s dominance: 1949 ņ 1977 93 3.3.1 Introduction 93 3.3.2 Organisational strength 93 3.3.3 Support of a strong socioeconomic bloc 94 3.3.4 Penetration of society 96 3.3.5 Pragmatism 97 3.3.6 Patronage 98 3.3.7 Symbolism S role of Ben-Gurion and Mapai in the founding of the state of Israel 98 3.3.8 Electoral performance 99 3..3.9 Summary 100 3.4 Fascism, World War II and the rise to dominance of the DC: 1948 - 1973 101 3.4.1 Introduction 101 3.4.2 Organisational strength 101 3.4.3 Support of a strong socioeconomic bloc 102 3.4.4 The DC and anti-communism 103 3.4.5 Penetration of society 104 3.4.6 Pragmatism 105 3.4.7 Patronage 105 3.4.8 Symbolism of De Gasperi=s role in reorganising the DC and leading Italy to political stability 106 3.4.9 Electoral performance 107 3.4.10. Summary 107 3.5 The SDP=s shaky start to dominance in Sweden: 1932 - 1957 108 3.5.1 Introduction 108 3.5.2 Organisational strength 109 3.5.3 Support of a strong socioeconomic bloc 109 3.5.4 Penetration of society 110 3.5.5 Pragmatism 111 3.5.6 Patronage 112 3.5.7 Symbolism 113 3.5.8 Electoral performance of the SDP 113 viii 3.5.9 Summary 114 3.6 South Africa and the incipient rise to dominance by the African National Congress (ANC):1994 - 114 3.6.1 Introduction 114 3.6.2 Organisational strength 115 3.6.3 Support of a strong socioeconomic bloc 116 3.6.3.1 African masses 116 3.6.3.2 Labour federation 117 3.6.4 Penetration of society 118 3.6.5 Pragmatism 119 3.6.6 Patronage 121 3.6.7 Symbolism B legacy of Mandela and the ANC=s role in the liberation struggle 122 3.6.8 Electoral performance 123 3.6.9 Summary 124 3.7 Conclusion 125 3.7.1 Organisational strength 126 3.7.2 Support from a strong socioeconomic bloc 127 3.7.3 Penetration of society 129 3.7.4 Pragmatism 129 3.7.5 Patronage 131 3.7.6 Symbolism 132 CHAPTER 4 135 THE EFFECT OF GOVERNMENTAL PERFORMANCE ON ELECTORAL SUPPORT Introduction 135 4.1 BDP: Botswana: from poverty to prosperity 137 4.1.1 Introduction 137 4.1.2 Sources of economic success 139 4.1.3 Capable leadership and good management 140 4.1.4 Negotiation skills 141 ix 4.1.5 Government performance 142 4.1.5.1 Economic growth 142 4.1.5.2 Employment 143 4.1.5.3 Education 143 4.1.5.4 Social welfare and health 144 4.1.5.5 Infrastructure S roads 145 4.1.5.6 Inequalities 145 4.1.6 Summary 146 4.2 Congress: The protracted struggle to overcome poverty 148 4.2.1 Introduction 148 4.2.2 Congress confronting the challenges 149 4.2.3 Government performance 151 4.2.3.1 Economic growth 151 4.2.3.2 Employment 152 4.2.3.3 Education 153 4.2.3.4 Social welfare and health 153 4.2.3.5 Population growth 154 4.2.3.6 Inequality 155 4.2.4 Summary 156 4.3 Mapai: building a self-sufficient nation 157 4.3.1 Introduction 157 4.3.2 Problems confronting the new state of Israel 158 4.3.3 Government performance 158 4.3.3.1 Economic growth 158 4.3.3.2 Employment 159 4.3.3.3 Education 160 4.3.3.4 Social welfare and health 161 4.3.4. Summary 162 4.4 Christian Democratic Party (DC): from a devastated country to an economic miracle 163 4.4.1 Introduction 163 4.4.2 First steps towards reconstruction 164 x 4.4.3 Government performance 165 4.4.3.1 Economic growth 165 4.4.3.2 Employment 166 4.4.3.3 Education 167 4.4.3.4 Social welfare and health 167 4.4.3.5 Housing 169 4.4.4 Summary 169 4.5 SDP: the formation of a unique social welfare system 170 4.5.1 Introduction 170 4.5.2 Unemployment and the formation of an ideology 171 4.5.3 Implementation of a socialist ideology 172 4.5.4 Government performance 174 4.5.4.1 Economic growth 174 4.5.4.2 Employment 174 4.5.4.3 Education 175 4.5.4.4 Social welfare and health 176 4.5.4.5 Housing 177 4.5.5.