A challenge of political transition in South Africa: majority vs minority rights

Abstract

Abstract Empirical results from a national attitude survey among white voters suggest that majority white endorsement of a future constitutional settlement will require stringent safeguards for minority rights and participation in government. A measure of conflict and considerable uncertainty likely to characterise the process of negotiations will reinforce white anxieties and make such safeguards all the more neccessary from the white vantage point. Although there are signs of flexibility among intellectual leadership within the ANC, key political leadership on the majority side has rejected the principle of minority safeguards which would weaken majority decisions. This is on the assumption that minority protection implies majority loss. It is argued in the paper, however, that provided that mechanisms are created for a creative resolution of conflict between majority and minority interests, and provided that race distinctions are eliminated from the constitution, minority safeguards can benefit the maj...