In the twentieth century South Africa was characterized by a doctrine of racial and ethnic segregation. Starting with the electoral victory of the National Party in 1948 under slogan of apartheid the white supremacy enhanced vastly. To pass laws, which suppressed and neglected the coloured people, the politico-philosophical ideology of the South African Apartheid system was enforced with brutality (Deegan, 2001:23-25). This political attitude led to pure spite and violent attacks among racial groupings.
The apartheid, and especially the violence between races, was at its height during 1960, when 67 demonstrators were killed by the police at the Sharpeville Massacre, and 1976, when the Revolt in Soweto took place (Butler, 2009:10-11). During 1984 and 1988, more than 4000 black South Africans died due to political reasons. In 1990, President FW de Klerk announced a turning point in the struggle for democracy. Releasing Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners and lifting the ban on the anti-apartheid organizations opened the door to negotiations. In April 1994, the first democratic elections were held in South Africa and it ended in ushered in a new era of reconciliation and restitution (Boaduo, 2012:954).
South Africa’s way from apartheid to a non-racial democracy has attracted a lot of attention of the international audiences. The carefully arranged ‘transition to democracy’ with its negotiation and reconciliation can be regarded as one of the miracles in the twentieth century. It may be served as an inspiring model how to peacefully approach with a seemingly unsolvable political conflict. The question that is thus posed is: what factors played an important role in making sure that the transitions from apartheid to a non-racial democracy ended up peacefully in negotiations and not in a civil war?
Table of Contents
1 Introduction and background
2 Important steps of South Africa's negotiated transition to democracy
3 Impact of main factors and key players
4 Reasons for a peaceful transition
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay explores the mechanisms behind South Africa's peaceful transition from an apartheid state to a non-racial democracy. The primary research question investigates which internal and international factors facilitated this transition and allowed it to conclude through negotiations rather than descending into a civil war.
- The historical context of apartheid and the resulting socio-political tension.
- The chronological phases of the democratic transition (1978–1994).
- The influence of international pressure and the end of the Cold War.
- Domestic factors including mass movements and economic crises.
- The critical role of leadership by figures like Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk.
Excerpt from the Book
3 IMPACT OF MAIN FACTORS AND KEY PLAYERS
It is obvious, that a milestone of such magnitude cannot be explained by referring to a single cause or a single person. There were main factors that facilitated South Africa’s movement towards a transition of democracy by causing general pressure to implement democratic institutions and practices: On the one hand, external or international incidents influenced the government’s decision to reform the political system and to negotiate. The collapse of the Soviet Union as well as the independence of Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia affected the apartheid system enormously. The end of the Cold War and the democratisation in the buffer regimes seemed to leave South Africa with no option but to follow (Giliomee and Schlemmer,1994:188). The pressure of the United States and the United Nations pointed the same way. Mainly advanced by the Harare Declaration, the target was to promote the human rights, condemn racism and obtain democracy. More and more, the international environment began to shift against the apartheid regime, but also was a source of motivation. All these developments outside South Africa made the ruling elite initiated their reforms from above.
On the other hand, even more important are the domestic factors, for instance the rising liberation movement which worked to raise awareness in their own country as well as worldwide and, thus, aimed to isolate the South African government and its supporters. According to Ellis (2012:633-635), some people argue that without decades of the mass protest movement and armed struggle there would probably not have been any kind of transition.
Chapter Summary
1 Introduction and background: Provides a historical overview of the apartheid era and establishes the research question regarding the peaceful nature of the South African democratic transition.
2 Important steps of South Africa's negotiated transition to democracy: Outlines the three phases of the transition process from 1978 to 1994, detailing the shift from initial reforms to mature negotiations.
3 Impact of main factors and key players: Examines how both international pressures and domestic movements, alongside the personal influence of key political leaders, forced the transition.
4 Reasons for a peaceful transition: Explains the concept of the 'ripe moment' and how a 'mutually hurting stalemate' encouraged all parties to choose negotiation over violence.
5 Conclusion: Summarizes the transformation of South Africa into a liberal democracy and reflects on the success of its reconciliation model.
Keywords
Apartheid, South Africa, Transition to Democracy, Nelson Mandela, FW de Klerk, CODESA, Negotiations, Human Rights, Reconciliation, Political Reform, Civil War, Domestic Factors, International Pressure, Liberation Movement, Non-racial Democracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
This paper examines the transition of South Africa from the apartheid regime to a non-racial democracy, focusing specifically on why this process was peaceful.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include historical segregation, the phases of democratic transition, the influence of international and domestic pressures, and the role of leadership in conflict resolution.
What is the main research question?
The central question is: what factors were instrumental in ensuring that the transition from apartheid to democracy concluded through peaceful negotiations instead of a civil war?
Which scientific methods are employed?
The essay utilizes a qualitative historical analysis, synthesizing existing academic literature, political theory, and historical accounts to explain the transition process.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body covers the chronological development of the transition, the external and internal variables that motivated political actors, and the strategic reasons for choosing compromise.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Key terms include Apartheid, transition, negotiation, reconciliation, CODESA, Nelson Mandela, and democratic reform.
How did international factors influence the South African government?
International factors such as the end of the Cold War, the collapse of buffer regimes, and pressure from the UN and US forced the ruling elite to acknowledge the necessity of reform.
What is the significance of the "ripe moment" in this context?
The "ripe moment" refers to a state of a "mutually hurting stalemate" where both the National Party and the ANC realized that neither could achieve their goals through force, making them open to negotiation.
Why was the transition considered a "miracle"?
It is labeled a miracle because a seemingly unsolvable and highly violent conflict was resolved through constitutional negotiations and a peaceful transfer of power.
- Quote paper
- Tim Eichler (Author), 2014, South Africa´s negotiated transition to democracy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/286989
