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Publications >> International Forum Publications >> Democratic Consolidation in South Africa: Progress and Pitfalls
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About this Report
On 16–17 February 1998, the Centre for Policy Studies (Johannesburg) and the International Forum for Democratic Studies convened a conference in Johannesburg that examined the first three and a half years of South African democracy, its progress, and the opportunities and threats that it faces. The conference brought together scholars and decision makers from South Africa and other countries in an attempt to deepen understanding of South Africa’s prospects for democratic consolidation and to point the way to more effective strategies for democratization. This report summarizes the presentations and comments made during the conference. It was written by Louise Stack of the Centre for Policy Studies and edited by the Centre and the International Forum. Any errors in fact or interpretation should be attributed to the author and editors. The organizers wish to thank Standard Bank of South Africa, which generously funded the South African costs of the conference, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, whose grant support to the International Forum covered the costs of the international participants. Neither the Standard Bank of South Africa nor the Carnegie Corporation of New York takes responsibility for the views expressed in this report. The organizers also wish to thank the administrative staffs of both the Centre and the Forum, who worked tirelessly to ensure a successful meeting, and both the South African and international participants, whose lively and energetic contributions made the conference a valuable and stimulating experience. Introduction Like most attempted transitions to democracy, South Africa’s is fluid, contradictory, and sometimes confusing. For those who seek it, evidence abounds more than three years after the country’s first universal-franchise elections that the new democracy is under severe stress. It can be found in increased crime, corruption, and economic difficulties, in conflict between the elected government and key interest groups, and in public disenchantment with new democratic institutions. But those inclined to optimism can find much evidence of democratic progress: Civil liberties are intact more than three years into the new order; democracy remains the preference of more than two-thirds of citizens; and government actions and policies are subject to vigorous and vocal public debate. It is perhaps inevitable that the extent of South Africa’s progress—or lack of it—toward a consolidated democracy should be so open to competing interpretations. Transitions are, by definition, periods of uncertainty in which it is difficult to understand the medium- or longer-term import of events. This stems in part from our limited ability to make immediate sense of trends whose full impact will become apparent only later. Because democracy’s prospects remain in the balance during a transition, events are almost sure to move in opposite directions as pressures leading toward and away from democracy jostle for supremacy. If this makes it understandable that the degree of movement toward consolidated democracy is difficult to assess, however, it also makes assessment imperative. Failure to adequately understand democracy’s prospects will produce inappropriate responses that may threaten democratic consolidation; threats might be interpreted as assets and vice versa, making it less likely that workable consolidation strategies will be developed. It is our hope that this report will contribute to the dialogue on understanding the progress of South African democracy. |
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