The Influence of the Type of Dominant Party on Democracy

1. Front Matter

   Pages 1-21

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2. Introduction

   • Malte Kaßner

   Pages 23-27

3. Theoretical Framework

   • Malte Kaßner

   Pages 29-53

4. Methodology

   • Malte Kaßner

   Pages 55-72

5. Organization of the dominant parties

   • Malte Kaßner

   Pages 73-155

6. Character and impacts of ideologies

   • Malte Kaßner

   Pages 157-191

7. Behavioural norms of dominant parties

   • Malte Kaßner

   Pages 193-285

8. Effects on the type of democracy

   • Malte Kaßner

   Pages 287-354

9. Conclusion for dominant parties’ theory

   • Malte Kaßner

   Pages 355-358

10. Back Matter

    Pages 359-384

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Dominant parties and democracies – are they really strange bedfellows? Malte Kaßner sheds light on the relation between one-party dominance and democracy from a comparative perspective. The study examines the key question how different types of dominant parties influence democracy in multicultural societies with the help of two case studies: South Africa and Malaysia. Both countries are characterized by an ethnically, linguistically and religiously plural society. The author analyses the two dominant parties African National Congress (ANC) and United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and their implications on democracy in the two countries. The outcome suggests that one-party dominance per se cannot be assessed as beneficial or harmful for democratic development. Rather, dominant parties deserve a stronger analytical differentiation. Causal patterns contribute to such a differentiation.

• African National Congress (ANC)
• Democracy
• Malaysia
• Political Parties
• South Africa
• United Malays National Organization (UMNO)

• Bonn, Germany

  Malte Kaßner

Malte Kaßner is freelance coach and consultant for development co-operations worldwide.

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