Negotiating the peaceful expansion of the South African electorate

Contrary to many predictions of instability, the expansion of the South Afr ican electorate in 1994 did not result in increases in political violence. The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between two subs tantial sociopolitical developments: structural property and labor guarante es during the transition process. The authors argue that the interplay of p roperty, labor, and electorate expansion sets the stage for either a peacef ul or a conflictual expansion of the electorate. The outcomes of the negoti ations between the key political coalitions will ultimately determine if a decrease in the levels and rates of political violence in the polity will r esult. Thus, to explain changes in the levels and rates of political violen ce and ultimately the successful expansion to a more inclusive democracy, i t is necessary to understand the negotiation dynamics that take place among competing political coalitions in South Africa.