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Re-exhuming the old hatchet: The effects of affirmative action policies on political preferences in post-apartheid South Africa

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  • Belmonte, Alessandro
  • Ticchi, Davide
  • Ubaldi, Michele

Abstract

This paper studies whether affirmative action policies towards the outsider group may foster a backlash by the insider one. We exploit the unique historical context provided by the legacy of apartheid in democratic South Africa. We found that the completion of the affirmative action legislation increases the support for far-right parties in national elections by 0.2% to 0.3% on average. We documented that this effect is stronger in areas located closer to the territories of the former homelands. We also found that affirmative action changed the voting intentions of the individuals. This effect is primarily driven by increased self-perceived economic insecurity. Finally, we did not find evidence of an effect of the legislation on increased interethnic violence.

Suggested Citation

  • Belmonte, Alessandro & Ticchi, Davide & Ubaldi, Michele, 2025. "Re-exhuming the old hatchet: The effects of affirmative action policies on political preferences in post-apartheid South Africa," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1626, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:glodps:1626
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J78 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Public Policy (including comparable worth)
    • K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law
    • N37 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Africa; Oceania

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