Browsing by Author "Gildenhuys, Kabelo Johannes"

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    Social cohesion and reconciliation in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03) Gildenhuys, Kabelo Johannes; De Jager, Nicola; Steenekamp, Cindy; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Social cohesion and reconciliation have important roles to play in the development and trajectory of conflict transformation in countries marked by past conflict. Given South Africa’s divided past, based predominantly on racial divisions, conflict transformation between the country’s racial groups is essential for ensuring future stability. Improved levels of social cohesion are an indication of the quality of social relations, particularly measured in terms of the levels of social and political trust and reconciliation, understood as the distance in social relations, specifically as observed in terms of inter-racial contact and inter-racial prejudice; improved levels of social and political trust and reconciliation would ultimately contribute towards sustained conflict transformation. The notions of ‘conflict transformation’ and ‘political culture’ provide the conceptual framework for the study of social cohesion and reconciliation, particularly in the South African context. Survey data from the South African Reconciliation Barometer (SARB) administered by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) were utilised for this study. This study was able to highlight how both social cohesion and reconciliation have changed, particularly in relation to the different race groups of South Africa. Employing a longitudinal study enabled the observation and analysis of the development of conflict transformation in South Africa through variables related to the dimensions of social cohesion and reconciliation from 2003 to 2013. The findings showed an increase in contact and social trust, particularly for Black and White South Africans. Additionally, White South Africans’ political trust increased significantly, whereas there was a decrease in political trust for Black South Africans. Levels of prejudice declined for White South Africans, whereas the levels of prejudice recorded for Black South Africans were more mixed as they decreased and increased. For both Indian and Coloured South Africans there was a decrease of acceptance of other race groups, albeit from a higher level of acceptance compared to Black and White South Africans. Levels of social cohesion and reconciliation remain low and the need for sustained efforts towards conflict transformation is evident. Several factors have been highlighted as contributing towards the low levels for both dimensions recorded. In particular, inequality, high crime levels, national leadership challenges and corruption have all had an adverse effect for the realisation of sustained conflict transformation in South Africa.