The new electoral power brokers: macro and micro level effects of 'born-free' South Africans on voter turnout. Issue 3 (3rd July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schulz-Herzenberg, Collette
• Is Part Of: Commonwealth & comparative politics. Volume 57:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 363
• Page End: 389
• Publication Date: 2019-07-03
• Subjects: Voter turnout -- born-free South Africans -- 2014 elections -- public opinion; Comparative government -- Periodicals; Institutions politiques comparées -- Périodiques; 320.9171241
• DOI: 10.1080/14662043.2019.1621537
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-2043

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The emergence of a born-free South African generation holds significant implications for voter turnout. At the macro level, the youth bulge has changed aggregate turnout patterns, supporting Franklin's [(2004). Voter turnout and the dynamics of electoral competition in established democracies since 1945 . New York, NY: Cambridge University Press] argument that demographics shifts produce changes in aggregate political behaviour even when individuals do not change their behaviour. At the micro level, born-free South Africans exhibit attitudinal and cognitive differences from their older, partisan-led counterparts when deciding to vote, lending some support to Dalton's [(1984). Cognitive mobilization and partisan dealignment in advanced industrial democracies. The Journal of Politics, 46 (1), 264–284] cognitive mobilisation thesis.