A Disappointing Democracy? Political Representation, Inequality, and Policy in South Africa Since 1994 (2015)

Undergraduates: Bridie McDonough, Dr. Andrew Reynolds

Faculty Advisor: Andrew Perrin
Department: Sociology

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How important is the composition of a nation¿¿¿s legislature in determining politicians¿¿¿ responses to citizens¿¿¿ needs or interests? The theory behind descriptive representation maintains that democratic politicians should represent the population in terms of politically important characteristics, such as ethnicity or gender, which would help them to better understand the constituency¿¿¿s policy preferences and respond appropriately. With a descriptive representation frame, this study examines the relationship between the changes in political representation in South Africa and the economic inequality since the start of majority rule in 1994 through today, and how this association can be explained by policies. Past research has focused on inequality and economic policies in South Africa; however, scholars have yet to discuss these two important topics within the context of the South African Parliament descriptive representation. My research found that the government has become more representative of the South African population since 1994, which has generally correlated to more of a policy focus on inequality. Over the past 20 years, poverty has reduced, but not economic inequality. Patterns revealed in the study reflect on whether descriptive representation can lead to substantive representation. In addition, my results contribute to literature on the connection between political justice and economic justice in a democratic setting, specifically after a transition period.