Class Year
2017
Document Type
Student Research Paper
Date of Creation
Spring 2017
Department 1
Political Science
Abstract
The field of political science has become increasingly interested in the electoral participatory habits of young people in recent decades, and in post-apartheid South Africa more specifically in light of the recent and ongoing #feesmustfall movement within the nation's tertiary institutions. Since 1994, South Africa has made a great deal of progress towards dismantling the apartheid system; however, vast inequalities remain and many, mostly black African communities have not yet reaped the rewards of a democratic South Africa. Using qualitative data gathered from three focus groups, this paper examines why youth from black African township communities of Durban, South Africa view electoral participation more negatively and with greater skepticism than youth living in historically white communities. Two independent variables gleaned from the literature are used to explain these different perspectives: the quality of one's civic education and persisting racial socioeconomic inequality.
Copyright Note
This is the author's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
Recommended Citation
Wagner, Anthony L., "Why Have Youth from Different Neighborhoods of Durban, South Africa Developed Different Opinions Regarding the Role and Importance of Voting in the Current State of South African Democracy?" (2017). Student Publications. 528.
https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/student_scholarship/528
Comments
Written as a Political Science Senior Thesis in Comparative Politics.