Drivers of populism in post-apartheid South Africa : A critical discourse analysis of the Economic Freedom Fighters and AfriForum

Sammanfattning: This research aims to deepen the understanding of drivers of populism by analysing different camps in the debate around land reform, using South Africa as a case. The research is conducted through a critical discourseanalysis (CDA) of two actors that represent different positions in a deeply divided society. To analyse the data for this research, the methodological framework of CDA will be operationalised and tabulated against concepts drawn from the theoretical discussion of populism described in the literature review. The two actors in the analysis are the political party EFF and the civilrights organisation AfriForum. The research found that the drivers of populism connected to land reforms in South Africa are based on the discontent of the black African people who still live in poverty, do not own their own land and are forced to stay in temporary housing on illegally occupied land. On the other hand, the driver behind AfriForum concerns feelings of threat, due to racial violence and their land is at risk of being confiscated by the government. After analysing their discourses between each other, it demonstrates how their actions sustain and create racial tension in post-apartheid South Africa.