DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AFRICA.   Term Paper ID:20655 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: From origins of apartheid to 1993 reforms, elections, agreements between whites & black, obstacles, future.... More...

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Paper Abstract: From origins of apartheid to 1993 reforms, elections, agreements between whites & black, obstacles, future. Paper Introduction: South Africa is currently experiencing a number of economic and social problems. Many of these problems are due to the policy of apartheid which dominated South African politics during the past four decades. This policy, which called for racial segregation, resulted in international disapproval and economic sanctions during the 1980's. Today, however, South Africa is facing the hope of a better future because of important changes which are taking place in the political environment. In 1990, President F. W. De Klerk paved the way toward increased democracy in his country when he freed Nelson Mandela, leader of the African National Congress (ANC), from prison. In December 1991, De Klerk's National Party began a series of negotiations with the ANC and other parties. The purpose of these negotiations, known as the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), was to Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. De Klerkalso instituted important reforms in both the police and military forces.These reforms included the forced retirement of many top leaders in bothdepartments. However, the South African government did not respond to thesesanctions as hoped for. The firstoccurred in 1976, in the township of Soweto, when a group of young studentsgathered to hold a demonstration for black rights. In this regard, one may expectcontinued violence between the opposing factions within the country. For example,the costs of running the policy's programs and maintaining its departmentswere an extravagant drain on the nation's budget (Thompson, 199 , p. Verwoerd, who waselected Prime Minister in 1958. Recent polls haveshown that whites as well as blacks want positive democratic change inSouth Africa. South Africa is currently experiencing a number of economic andsocial problems. 34. 19 ). In order for that campaign to be a success, Mandela's partywill have to acquire approximately $3 million in funding. (1993, May). 94). De Klerk paved the way toward increased democracy in hiscountry when he freed Nelson Mandela, leader of the African NationalCongress (ANC), from prison. This incident set in motion a series of riots and demonstrations whichsoon moved beyond the schools to encompass the whole black population ofthe South Africa. White police arrived tobreak up the demonstration and when tear gas failed to disperse the crowd,they "opened fired, killing two and injuring many" (Lapping, 1987, p. The ANC and the Inkatha have engaged in many violentclashes in recent years. 233). During the early 199 's, the situation in South Africa finally beganto improve, and steps began to be taken toward democratic representationfor all of the nation's people. South Africa's tortuous transition.Current History 92, pp. In 1986, thegovernment declared a "state of emergency" in which the "primary objectivewas to reestablish control over the republic, especially over the Africantownships" (Thompson, 199 , p. Infact, President De Klerk's motivation in ending the apartheid policystemmed largely from his desire "to stop the siege of sanctions" (Mallaby,1992, p. In December of 1991, De Klerk's National Party agreedto negotiate with the ANC and 25 other South African political partiesduring the convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA). New York: GeorgeBraziller. The plan to shift to a democratic governmentincludes the implementation of a multiparty Transitional Executive Councilwhich "will have no executive authority but will oversee De Klerk'sgovernment policies to ensure their nonpartisan nature" (MacLeod, 14 June1993, p. More importantly, however, hope for the future can be seenin the fact that the attitudes of the nation's people are starting toundergo fundamental change. This organization was the forerunner of the current African NationalCongress, which represents the interests of the black majority (Leach,1986, p. Although he is a memberof the National Party, De Klerk came to the Presidency with the realizationthat his party's policy of apartheid was a failure. W. As a result, "goaded by television pictures of white policemenbeating blacks, America, the Commonwealth and the European Communitydeclared restrictions on South African trade" (Mallaby, 1992, p. Many Afrikaners were opposed tothis idea, and thus the National Party was formed as an alternative to theSouth African Party. F. It is obvious that the South African economy was "devastatedby sanctions between 1985 and 1991" (Mandela and De Klerk, 1993, p.34). 15-16). In resistance to British rule, organizations catering toboth the Afrikaners and the nation's blacks were formed. This, in turn, resulted inan increase in foreign investment, and a boost in the nation's economy. Time, 141, p. At the same time, theactivities of the ANC and similar organizations were banned. (1993, 14 June). In the words of BobbyGodsell, a South African labor negotiator, "we cannot achieve political andsocial stability without addressing the issue of poverty immediately"(MacLeod, 14 June 1993, p. A history of South Africa. Thesenegotiations were intended for the purpose of finding ways to give blacksand other minorities an increased voice in government. 39). Democratic reform in South Africa is being challenged by variousopposition parties that are looking out for their own racial interests.For example, there is currently a threat of white conservative forcesattempting a "counterrevolution" against the reformists (Grundy, 1993, p.233). Another force opposing the peaceful transition to democracy is theInkatha Party, led by the Zulu Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi. News & World Report 114, pp. Newsweek122, p. In terms of black civil rights in South Africa, "the Sowetorising and the death of Steve Biko marked a turning-point" (Lapping, 1987,p. 19 ). 162). In effect, the South African government's"state of emergency" created a police state within the already troublednation. One of the most important factors in creating a democratic climate inSouth Africa is the restoration of the nation's economy. The conflicts which exist in South Africa today have their roots inthe earliest periods of the nation's history. In 199 ,President F. 159). De Klerk to the Presidency. Thispolicy, which called for racial segregation, resulted in internationaldisapproval and economic sanctions during the 198 's. In June 1993, the CODESA talksresulted in a date being set for South Africa's first free elections: 27April 1994. 235). 36). This disclosure increased the South Africanblacks' protest and helped them to gain the support of the internationalcommunity. (199 ). The economic troubles of the country couldhave a detrimental effect on Mandela's ANC campaign in the upcomingelections. 34-36. Another important event during Verwoerd's reign occurred in 1964,when Nelson Mandela, the leader of the African National Congress, was foundguilty of treason and sentenced to life in prison. The purposeof these negotiations, known as the Convention for a Democratic SouthAfrica (CODESA), was to lead the nation toward free elections andmultiracial representation in government. Thisgovernment, led by President Lucas Mangope, is causing problems bymaintaining repressive policies which are contrary to the democratic aimsof the new South African government. Despite these problems, South Africa stands a good chance ofattaining its democratic goals in the near future. In this regard, it is evident that the majority of SouthAfricans, including most whites, "want to put apartheid - and conflict -behind them" (MacLeod, 7 June 1993, p. New Haven: Yale UP.----------------------- 12 The five-year government under the leadership of Mandela will becharged with the task of creating a new democratic constitution. Dr. Malan was responsiblefor introducing the policy of apartheid into South Africa's government andsociety.This policy, which called for racial segregation, was designed to benefitthe white minority by preventing the black majority from having a voice inpolitics. Regarding the problem of unemployment in South Africa,it has been noted that it will not be easy "to find jobs for a fastgrowingwork force that cannot be absorbed by a capital-starved economy" (MacLeod,14 June 1993, p. 44).Foreign investors were encouraged to pull out of South Africa, and officialsanctions were leveled against certain products being exported to thecountry. In fact, as noted by one commentator, "given thehostility and distrust that is South Africa, it is amazing that cooperationhas progressed this far" (Grundy, 1993, p. monopoly on power" (MacLeod, 14 June 1993, p. 38-4 +. Apartheid: A history. During the Second World War, the National Party gained even morepower as increasing numbers of Afrikaners saw the need for national unity.After the war, the National Party won South Africa's 1948 elections and Dr.Daniel Malan became the nation's Prime Minister. Groenewald, recently became the leader of a coalition ofrightwing groups known as the Afrikaner Volksfront (MacLeod, 7 June 1993,p. MacLeod, S. This quicklyincreased the size and power of the organization and, by 1929, the NationalParty had attained the status of the majority party in the South Africa'sparliament (Leach, 1986, p. Thisloss in capital led, in turn, to such problems as inflation and widespreadunemployment. In December 1991, De Klerk's National Partybegan a series of negotiations with the ANC and other parties. Today, however,South Africa is facing the hope of a better future because of importantchanges which are taking place in the political environment. Theracial violence in South Africa received extensive media coverage aroundthe world. After apartheid: The future of South Africa.New York: Times Books/Random House. 46). Furthermore, Verwoerd and hisfollowers claimed that the white population comprised a "single nation" ofAfrikaners and English-speakers, whereas the African group was divided intoten small, powerless "nations." By keeping the Africans divided in thisway, the National Party government developed "a formula that made the whitenation the largest in the country" (Thompson, 199 , p. Knight, R., Ransdell, E., & Brandus, P. In the 1994 elections, a new five-year transitionalgovernment will be elected. In the seventeenth century,Afrikaners of Dutch descent began to establish colonies on lands which hadoriginally belonged to African tribes. 15). Progress may be slow anddifficult, but the first steps have already been taken toward freedom anddemocracy in the nation. The focus ofthis party is on the interests of the Zulu people. (1986). W. 36). In early June 1993, the parties in the CODESA negotiations reached alandmark agreement in which an April 1994 date was set for the nation'sfirst free elections. Because it offered protection against Britishbusinesses as well as against black competition for jobs, the NationalParty began to attract many English-speaking South Africans. Also during that time, international disapproval of SouthAfrica's policies resulted in economic sanctions which were designed topressure the government into changing its approach to race relations. The future development of South Africa is dependent upon theeffective rebuilding of the nation's economic base. Furthermore, a referendum held in March of 1992 showedthat even the nation's white population "strongly approved continuingnegotiations for a nonracial democracy" (Grundy, 1993, p. South Africa: No easy path to peace. In 199 , De Klerkpermitted the release of ANC leader Nelson Mandela from prison (MacLeod, 14June 1993, p. The policy ofapartheid severely damaged the country's economic condition. 35). 229-233. Home sweethomeland. W. (1993, 26 July). 35). As such, the InkathaParty poses a challenge to the efforts of the ANC to unite all of thenation's people. London:Routledge & Kegan Paul. Investigations by concerned reporters uncoveredevidence that the human rights of Biko and other political prisoners werebeing violated by the police. U.S. Soon after,apartheid was instituted as the official policy of the South Africangovernment. This development began with the September1989 election of F. Time, 141, pp. Specifically, the people are beginning toaccept the idea of a multiracial society and government. The violent protests against the white South African governmentcontinued to grow during the early 198 's. He accuratelyacknowledged the fact that "the white monopoly of power had yieldedcontinuous black protest, which gradually undermined the white securitythat the monopoly was meant to protect" (Mallaby, 1992, p. The nation willprobably experience various difficulties in its efforts to overcome theeffects of years of racial segregation. Thus, the stepsbeing taken toward a new government in South Africa are being carefullyplanned in order to insure against future problems of party dominance suchas those of the past. Lapping, B. References Gruhdy, K. At the time, the leading party of thegovernment was the South African Party, led by Louis Botha and Jan Smuts.This party was based on the platform of seeking increased cooperationbetween the Afrikaners and the British. By the timeVerwoerd was assassinated in 1966, apartheid had become firmly establishedas an official policy, and the major African resistance movements had beeneffectively broken up. 34). In this regard, the retired Chief of Military Intelligence, MajorGeneral P. Never, never, never. Verwoerd and his government establishednew laws which were designed to deprive all non-whites of power.Verwoerd's apartheid policy was based on the premise that there are fourraces in South Africa: White, Colored (Mixed), African, and Indian, and thewhites, "as the civilized race, were entitled to have absolute control overthe state" (Thompson, 199 , p. In the late 197 's, two major events started changing the way thenation's blacks responded to the white government's oppression. Therefore, there is a threatthat the Volksfront might eventually try to rebel against the futureleaders of the South African state. In fact, it inflamed the situation by increasingefforts to maintain control over the nation's people. This change towarddemocracy reflects the desire of South Africa's people to end their manyyears of conflict. Yet another problem in the futuredevelopment of South Africa is that of Bophuthatswana, a region of thenation which has held its own government since the late 197 's. H. In 1961, the nation obtained its independence from the Britishand became designated as the Republic of South Africa. This nationwide protest was heightened in 1977, when thepopular black leader Steve Biko died under mysterious circumstances whilein police custody. This coalition of white conservatives is demanding an independentwhite state within the nation of South Africa. 232). Thus, SouthAfrica's white minority was legally able to take complete control over thecountry. However, both De Klerk andMandela are opposed to this idea, because "it would require the forcedremoval of millions of blacks or a return to apartheid-style discriminationagainst them" (MacLeod, 7 June 1993, p. For example, in1912, the first meeting of the South African Native National Congress washeld. The Bophuthatswana government hasshown resistance to the recent democratic reforms and has made it clearthat it wishes to "enter the new South Africa with its apartheid-era powersintact" (Knight, Ransdell, & Brandus, 1993, p. 36). Birth of a nation. (1992). In the late eighteenth century, theBritish Empire began efforts to seize those lands from the Afrikaners.Those efforts culminated in the "Boer War" of 1899-19 2, which establishedBritish rule and set the stage for the formation of the Union of SouthAfrica in 191 . Hope for South Africa's democratic future can also be seen in thefact that steps have been taken toward the establishment of free electionsin the country. (1993, 7 June). 34). (1987). As in thecase of the Transitional Executive Councils control over De Klerk'soutgoing power, "Mandela will be required to form a government thatincludes leaders from all the major parties as a safeguard against anA.N.C. 35). MacLeod, S. During that time, the politicalstructure of the nation was undergoing changes which resulted in a newconstitution in 1984, and the altering of Prime Minister Botha's title toPresident. Following the shift inthe government's apartheid policy, many nations around the world removedtheir economic sanctions against South Africa. This decision has been called an "historic agreement" becauseit represents an "irreversible step forward" to allowing all South Africancitizens the right to vote for their own government (MacLeod, 14 June 1993,p. It is presumed that the African NationalCongress will win the largest number of seats on the new legislature andwill thus be entitled to choose Nelson Mandela as the President of thecountry. 241).In addition, the sanctions which arose as a result of apartheid "cost thecountry millions in lost investment" (MacLeod, 14 June 1993, p. Nevertheless, South Africa has been making rapidprogress toward positive change in recent years. Mandela and De Klerk: Waiting for payday. Leach, G. Thompson, L. However, this declaration also gavethe police unprecedented powers which often resulted in the furtherviolation of human rights. 35). 36. Unless heraises adequate campaign funds, Mandela may have difficulty getting hissupporters to go to the voting booths; as a result, the ANC could lose theelection, even though they "may be the most popular party" (Mandela and DeKlerk, 1993, p. 34). Mallaby, S. 229). With thisview in mind, De Klerk became convinced "that it was time to give blacksthe vote and a real share in power" (Mallaby, 1992, pp. Many of these problems are due to the policy of apartheidwhich dominated South African politics during the past four decades. (1993, 12 July). Inaddition, it may take many years before the effects of economic sanctionsare fully overcome. 233). 2 ). In this way, De Klerk removed from his government those whohad been "accused of engaging in illegal dirty tricks against blackorganizations" as well as "some of the hard-liners known for resistingreforms" (Grundy, 1993, p. Soon afterhis election, De Klerk made many important changes in government policy,such as lifting the ban on the ANC and other parties. 34). Soon after 191 , the Afrikaners formed their own party toprotect their political interests. This occurred under the leadership of H. In addition, Buthelezi's party is causingproblems for the future development of a united South Africa by demandingthe right to maintain its own autonomous federal government within the newsystem (Grundy, 1993, p. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.