Coalition Governments’ Place in Edmund Burke’s Political Philosophy
Felistas. R. Mupereki

Abstract
The 21st century ushered in a new political phenomenon to Africa: coalition governments. These are formed by different political parties in countries with a history of only one party forming the government. In some cases these coalition governments are a creature of provisions that are not even part of the countries’ constitutions but are created specifically to allow progress. This study analyses this new occurrence in line with Edmund Burke’s political philosophy (1729 – 1797) using interviews and document reviews. Edmund Burke wrote against radical revolutions; defending what is old, what is conventional and what is long established. As such this supports the conservation and continuation of history. This study analysed this philosophy against the coalition governments. The findings place coalition governments as a big yes and a big no to Edmund Burke. Coalition governments’; preserve history on one hand, whilst eroding the very fundamentals that Edmund Burke sought to defend on the other. As a recommendation the researcher put forward that contemporary politics have a lot to learn from history as much as history has to learn from contemporary politics.

Full Text: PDF