Realignment Theory Essay

Political science first emerged as an academic discipline towards the end of the 19th century and mainly focused on formal institutions, structures and organizations within government (Theodore Rosenhof, 1). However, at the mark of the 1920’s this approach towards institutions began to be revised. Soon a behavioral approach towards government surfaced which focused on electoral patterns and voting behavior (Theodore Rosenhof, 1). In using this approach, many academics recognized an alarming amount of movements and change across the state; resulting in a dynamic, rather than a stagnant, political network. These establishments and generalizations made by academics eventually culminated in what is presently known as the realignment theory (Theodore

Theodore Rosenhof phrases realignment as a theory that suggests an overall shift in partisan dominance as a result of a shift in the way voters align themselves (2). Realignment can be centered around a critical election, in which the shift in power transpires rapidly over the course of one election (Thomas Ferguson, 407). However, realignment can also transpire slowly, occurring over a period of many elections. The realignment theory is comprised of various characteristics that determines whether an election is critical or not. It is important to note that although realignment is comprised of characteristics, some of these characteristics will be evident in one election but not in another. For a better understanding, of the characteristics that define realignment, this essay will firstly use a specific case study that emphasizes the attributes required for a critical election and secondly apply these characteristics to the current 2016 elections to determine whether a realigning election is being

Firstly, the dominant societal issue that disrupted the political order of the National Party was racial segregation and the termination of apartheid. Secondly, while the National Party promoted the apartheid system, the African National Congress (though at the time the party was illegitimate) advocated for the termination of racial segregation (Encyclopaedia Britannica). Although there was not shift in party coalitions there was a major shift in voter support from the National Party to the African National Congress (ANC) with the ANC winning a popular vote of 62.65% (Encyclopaedia Britannica). This realigning election removed the National Party from power and in its place positioned the African National Congress. The ANC has been in power since 1994 with little competition from opposing parties. However, economic, social and cultural changes have slowly lead to an increase in votes for the opposing party, the Democratic Alliances (Aryn Baker). With that said there might be a possibility for another realigning election sometime in South Africa’s