Browsing by Author "Johnston, Alexander."

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Covenanted peoples : the Ulster Unionist and Afrikaner Nationalist coalitions in growth, maturity and decay.
(1991) Johnston, Alexander.; Frost, Mervyn L.
Abstract not available.
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature : political elite formation and change, 1994-2004.
(2008) Francis, Suzanne.; Johnston, Alexander.
This is a study, through extensive empirical fieldwork research, of political elite formation in the Provincial Legislature of KwaZulu-Natal over a ten-year period from 1994-2004. The period of this study covers two successive provincial government elections and two terms of office. The first election was the founding election of South Africa's new democracy. Through the frameworks of classical and democratic elite theory, the social and political composition, patterns of recruitment, values, ideology and institutional capacity of the elected members of the legislature are analysed. The findings of this study demonstrate that the new institutional context has provided for greater party fluidity and instability in the legislature of a political elite that came to power through fragmented and contradictory alliances, has become more homogenous, and for some, their contradictory affiliations tie their interests to the legislature. In addition, an emerging political culture of value systems and ideology is beginning to take shape across political parties in a manner that has the potential to undermine the democratic institutions of government. As a product of this, and an underdeveloped institutional capacity, certain issues dominate the provincial agenda as the elite come to redefine their interests. Alongside this the longevity of a few is guaranteed. As such, political elite formation in KwaZulu-Natal has the potential to undermine the basis of democracy in the province.
The transformation of South African foreign intelligence in a global context : resources, functions and case study.
(2001) Haffejee, Mohammed.; Johnston, Alexander.
The primary focus of this dissertation is the transformation of South Africa's foreign intelligence service. This transformation is seen in the light of the individual histories of the pre-1994 intelligence services (state, homelands and liberation movement) which contributed to the new structures. The legislation which governs these structures is examined. The role of intelligence in supporting foreign policy is discussed in the context of changing patterns of global politics and security concerns. The dissertation concludes with an attempt to draw up an 'intelligence agenda' for South Africa's new service and a discussion of the potential and limits of intelligence, using the Zimbabwe crisis as a case study.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) : a case study of democratic organisation, 1983-1987.
(1998) Houston, Gregory Frederick.; Phillips, Ian.; Johnston, Alexander.
This study, using the theoretical basis of the writings of Lenin and Gramsci on revolutionary theory and praxis, traces the formation, policy and aims, membership and structure, and practices of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and selected affiliate organisations during the period 1983-1987. The central problem investigated is the relation between revolutionary theory and praxis and the aims, policies and practices of the UDF and its affiliates. More particularly, in what respects does the formation of the UDF and revolutionary developments thereafter meet the strategic and tactical requirements of Lenin and Gramsci's theories of revolutionary strategy? It is argued that the formation of the UDF, and revolutionary developments during the period of review, conformed to the strategic and tactical requirements of a Leninist-Gramscian model of revolutionary praxis in the following way: the general drive to establish mass-based community organisations (increasing the complexity of civil society by establishing mass organisations); the formation of the UDF in August 1983 (creating a historical bloc in opposition to the ruling bloc during the phase of democratic struggle); and the development and spread of a common national political culture based on resistance to apartheid (expanding the revolutionary consciousness of the masses). During the period under review, the UDF-Ied opposition to apartheid resulted in the organisational and ideological penetration of the Front into almost every major sector of black civil society. The major forces behind the increasing political and ideological leadership of the UDF were the affiliated civic associations, trade unions, student/youth and women's organisations. These organisations played a central role in mass mobilisation and organisation and the spread of revolutionary consciousness throughout black civil society.