Parties and political cleavages

Political parties are essential features of the modern state and are critical forces in democratizing countries. The 400 members of South Africa’s National Assembly represent seven parties (see Appendix 3). The ANC is by far the dominant party with 252 seats, followed by the National Party with 82 seats and the Inkatha Freedom Party with 43 seats. Parties in liberal democracies tend to play an integrative role, in that they bring people into the political process and provide channels of communication between society and political representatives. By building links with the public and articulating certain moral and social values, parties increase the legitimacy of political systems and thereby can reduce the likelihood of violent outbursts.