LATENT POLITICS IN SOUTH AFRICA: THE FALL OF APARTHEID AND THE PERSONALITY FACTOR

Abstract

This paper explores the phenomenon of latent politics in South Africa during the apartheid era. The term ‘latent policy/politics’ was introduced into scientific use by Gabriel Almond. In the field of political science latent policy/politics refers to a hidden, completely or partially unobserved sphere of politics underpinned by personality factors. The political process in South Africa shows many examples of latent politics. For example, the Soweto uprisings and the wave of unrest in mid-1976 marked the beginning of the final stage of the struggle against apartheid. Furthermore, in the fall of apartheid, hidden personality factors are also apparent, and here the role of the liberation movements was of decisive importance. Organizations such as the African National Congress (ANC), the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and other historical movements of the masses like the worker movements and the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) are also studied in this context. An exploration of latent politics allows inclusive disclosure of various aspects of the political process.