Legacies of Power: A Comparison of Post-Colonial Party Dominance in Namibia and South Africa
Abstract
This article examines the evolving political trajectories of the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa and the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) in Namibia, two liberation movements that transitioned into dominant ruling parties after independence. While their liberation credentials initially conferred legitimacy and enabled early state-building, their prolonged incumbency has led to the entrenchment of party-state conflation, elite patronage, and institutional stagnation. Through a comparative analysis, the article explores how these liberation legacies have shaped post-colonial state institutions, electoral behaviour, and democratic development in the two countries.
Fields of Study & Subjects
African Studies and Ethnography
Political Conflict and Governance
African studies and sociopolitical issues
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Asian and African Studies
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 115–137
- Publication date
- 29 January 2026
- Language
- EN