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Social cohesion in a post‐conflict context: case study of South Africa 12 years on
Author(s) -
Bradshaw Gavin
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international social science journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.237
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1468-2451
pISSN - 0020-8701
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2451.2009.00691.x
Subject(s) - cohesion (chemistry) , politics , settlement (finance) , social conflict , democracy , conflict resolution , political economy , sociology , political science , cultural conflict , social environment , perspective (graphical) , development economics , social science , law , economics , chemistry , organic chemistry , finance , artificial intelligence , computer science , payment
The article focuses on South Africa as an example of a post‐conflict society. It reflects on the levels of social cohesion that might be expected, after a period of deep‐rooted social conflict. Reviewing material from a number of recent surveys carried out in the country from the theoretical perspective of the analytical conflict resolution school, and taking cognisance of a number of recent political events that reveal that real fault‐lines still persist, it leads us to question whether the democratic political settlement achieved in 1994 will prove durable as levels of social tension continue to rise.