The Political Consequences of Local Electoral Systems: Democratic Change and the Politics of Differential Citizenship in South Africa

What kind of democracy is emerging from the recent wave of democratic transitions? A spatial analysis of democratization can map the efforts of political leaders to institutionalize differential citizenship rights among different population groups to secure long-term political advantage. The design and construction of local electoral systems play a central role in establishing institutional endowments that constrain both the associational autonomy of social groups and their ability to advance claims for citizenship rights. Party leaders designed the local electoral system in KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa to shore up authoritarian clientelism in rural areas as the price for democratic expansion and coalitional opportunities in urban areas. This spatial strategy not only secured interparty advantage, but also entrenched long-term voter preferences along ethnic and regional lines.