Understanding South Africa's Global Election

As part of our 2024 Global Election Series, our partners at The Brenthurst Foundation have written a comprehensive analysis titled "South Africa’s 2029 Election: The Rough Birth of a New Order." Authored by Ray Hartley and Greg Mills, the report dives into the recent national election held on May 29, where the ANC (African National Congress) was reduced to around 40% support. This pivotal moment forces the ANC to choose between a centrist pivot or a shift to the populist left, a decision that will shape South Africa's future for decades. The report provides five key takeaways from this historic election, including the effectiveness of democracy, the complexities of coalition talks, a participation crisis, the election's impact on foreign policy, and the troubling trend of rejecting empirical research in favor of uninformed opinion.

To read the full report, visit here: South Africa’s 2029 Election: The Rough Birth of a New Order.

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The Pacific Council's 2024 Global Election Series

This summer the Pacific Council will host a series of webinars looking at the results from three major elections, Mexico, India, and the United Kingdom. The conversations will examine what the results mean for each country, their allies and provide time for Pacific Council members to engage in Q&A with expert speakers. In addition to these webinars, the Pacific Council is providing reports like these to provide insight into how these elections are changing international dynamics and shaping the geopolitical landscape.