The Changing Political Landscapes: Electoral Systems and Liberation Party Election Outcomes in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana

Key Points

• The article aims to understand the impact of electoral systems on the election outcomes of liberation parties in Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia.
• Examined election results and political dynamics in Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia.
• Analyzed the influence of electoral systems on coalition-building and party support.
• Investigated citizen dissatisfaction and the ideological roles of liberation parties.
• In Botswana, the first-past-the-post system allowed the opposition coalition (UDC) to win the election despite incumbent losses.
• South Africa’s proportional representation system prevented effective opposition coalitions, keeping incumbent parties in power.
• Namibia’s mixed electoral system also disincentivized opposition engagement, allowing incumbents to maintain their status.

Abstract