01738nam a22002177a 4500 3228 20251014121923.0 251014b sa ||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d 9780620476003 Paperback MPL English 3228 RDA RDA 321.8 AGAI Against all odds/ opposition political parties in Southern Africa Sandton, SA: KMM Review publishing company, ©2011. 261 pages. 23 cm Democracy in Africa series 2 Opposition political parties are vital to the functioning of democracies as they provide a representative system of the electorate while keeping ruling parties accountable. Through this important legislative role, the political system gains legitimacy. However, opposition parties across the southern African region confront many challenges in their attempts to function effectively. This, of course, raises important questions. Why is the political opposition so weak and fragmented in the region? Are the challenges largely due to internal weaknesses or state repression? How do opposition parties relate to their constituencies as well as broader civil society? In seeking to answer these questions, this volume assembled contributions from a number of prominent scholars from the region who share the experiences of their respective countries. The diversity of countries included - from the island-state of Mauritius to regional behemoth South Africa, from democratic Botswana to feudal Swaziland - allows one to draw comparative lessons about the region. Adults 197096 Solomon, Hussein editor 197098 van Heerden, Brandon cover and design ddc BOOK 6197 Nontobeko Sigudla 6197 Nontobeko Sigudla 787341 787340 0 0 ddc 0 0 300 MBOMRL MATPL Non_Fiction 2025-10-14 416.55 0 321.8 AGAI 3322803177597 2025-10-14 2025-10-14 BOOK