Organizing Conflict Resolution Interventions in Situations of Rapid Change: The South African Transition

Abstract

After decades of oppressive, authoritarian rule, South Africa (like the former Soviet Union discussed in the previous chapter) experienced a rapid transition to majority rule from 1990 to 1994. As white minority rule came to an end, the country publicly discussed issues which only a short time earlier had been taboo. While the political negotiations, constitutional issues, and leading personalities were the focus of the world’s attention at the time, within South Africa there was also a great deal of attention to the details of daily life. How would the allocation of public resources which had so favoured white South Africans change in areas such as education, housing or health care? What would the new police force look like? What would be the fate of rival political leaders and groups within both the white and black communities?