Human values and voting intention in South Africa

Using the value indices ‘International harmony and equality’ and ‘National strength and order’ (Braithwaite, 1982), previous research in Australia found support for Rokeach's (1973) two-value model of political ideology (Heaven, 1991). The present study was designed to test the model's cross-cultural robustness among South African university students (N = 593). A discriminant function analysis revealed that supporters of various political parties could more easily be discriminated in terms of their support for ‘Internal harmony and equality’ than in their support for ‘National strength and order’. The findings are discussed in the context of social identities in South Africa. It is also argued that in societies experiencing conflict or change, the dimension ‘National strength and order’ needs to be revised so as to more accurately reflect current sociopolitical debate.