Overcoming Intolerance in South Africa: Experiments in Democratic Persuasion

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 toward 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 toward 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.