| Overcoming Intolerance in South Africa South African Edition: Experiments in Democratic Persuasion Contributor(s): Gibson, James L. (Author), Gouws, Amanda (Author) |
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ISBN: 0521533627 ISBN-13: 9780521533621 Publisher: Cambridge University Press OUR PRICE: $52.25 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: October 2002 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | World - General |
| Series: Cambridge Studies in Public Opinion and Political Psychology |
| Physical Information: 352 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: In Overcoming Intolerance in South Africa, Gibson and Gouws investigate the degree to which the political culture of South Africa - the beliefs, values, and attitudes towards politics held by ordinary people - impedes or promotes the consolidation of democratic reform. One set of values is of particular concern for their research - 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 towards the political views of others. Thus, 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 co-exist in their diversity. |