South Africa s Long Trek to Deliverance: the Lessons of Apartheid, Transition and Democracy

Bc. Juraj Seriš

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Diplomová práca "South Africa's Long Trek..." mapuje politickú a socioekonomickú situáciu v Juhoafrickej republike od vzniku rasistického režimu známeho ako apartheid až po reformy iniciované na prelome 20. a 21. storočia demokraticky zvolenou vládou pod vedením Afrického národného kongresu. V chronologicky ponímanom texte sú primárnym predmetom skúmania politické práva, rasová diskriminácia, politicky motivované násilie, zmena režimu, ekonomické reformy a ideová výbava jednak Národnej strany ako predstaviteľa apartheidu, a jednak Afrického národného kongresu a ďalších opozičných (národno-oslobodeneckých) skupín. Obdobie prechodu k demokracii a demokratická prax po r. 1994 sú skúmané predovšetkým zo socioekonomického hľadiska, interpretované sú prijaté reformy a ich prípadná revízia a ich dopady na kvalitu života väčšinovej populácie.

Abstract:

The diploma thesis entitled “South Africa’s Long Trek…” concerns the political and socioeconomic situation in South Africa from the inception of the racist regime known as apartheid to the reforms initiated by the democratic government headed by the African National Congress at the turn of the twenty-first century. As a rule, major events and developments are accounted for in a chronological order. The primary focus of the thesis is examination of political rights, regime change, racial discrimination, politically motivated violence and ideological baggage of the National Party on the one hand, and the African National Congress and assorted liberation movements on the other. The transition period and post-1994 democratic experience are scrutinized with a preference for socioeconomic developments and an interpretation of reforms, including their revision and impact on everyday life of the majority population, is provided.

Keywords

South Africa, apartheid, racial discrimination, affirmative action, neoliberalism, national liberation, Afrikaner, Bantu, Bantustan, National Party, African National Congress, ANC, Nelson Mandela, transition, Reconstruction and Development, RDP, Growth Employment and Redistribution, GEAR, Freedom Charter, COSATU, SACP, Hendrik Verwoerd, Frederick de Klerk, Black Economic Empowerment

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 28. 4. 2010

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 17. 6. 2010
• Supervisor: B.A. Jeffrey Alan Vanderziel

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Philology / English Language and Literature