Overcoming Intolerance in South Africa: Experiments in Democratic Persuasion (Cambridge Studies in Public Opinion and Political Psychology)
Cambridge University Press
Edition: 1st Pbk. Ed, 1/26/2006
EAN 9780521675154, ISBN10: 0521675154
Paperback, 280 pages, 22.8 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm
Language: English
Overcoming Intolerance in South Africa investigates the degree to which the political culture of South Africa - the beliefs, values, and attitudes toward politics held by ordinary people - impedes or promotes the consolidation of democratic reform. One set of values is of particular concern in this study - political tolerance. The authors contend that political tolerance is a crucial element of democratic political cultures in general, but that in the South African case, tolerance is perhaps more important than any other democratic value. Since South Africa is one of the most polyglot countries in the world, the only viable strategy for survival is tolerance toward the political views of others. The overwhelming emphasis throughout this book is on finding ways to enhance the willingness of South Africans to 'put up with' their political enemies, to allow open and widespread political competition, and to coexist in their diversity.
List of tables and figures
Preface
Part I. Introduction
1. Political tolerance in the New South Africa
2. The South African context
Part II. South African Intolerance as It Is
3. The nature of political intolerance in South Africa
4. Social identities, threat perceptions and political intolerance
5. Making tolerance judgements
the effect of context, local and national
Part III. South African Intolerance as It Might Be
6. The persuasibility of tolerance and intolerance
7. The law and legal institutions as agents of persuasion
8. Becoming tolerant? Short-term changes in South African political culture
9. Conclusions
experimenting with tolerance in the New South Africa
Appendix
research design and methodology
References
Index.