Debate strategies and tactics

Abstract

With the forthcoming second election on our doorstep, the quality of arguing anddebating comes into sharp focus. This aspect has been neglected to a large extend inthe past. Therefore this study gives a qualitative analysis of the Mandela versus DeKlerk trend setting debate – a first for South Africa – as a step towards understandingand evaluating the processes involved in debating. In this paper the focus falls on theverbal strategies and tactics. This paper not only gives a descriptive analysis of thestrategies and tactics that have been used, but where necessary, gives an evaluationof the use of them. With this information as basis, some recommendations are proposedto improve the use of strategies and tactics. These recommendations are made in thehope that it will strengthen the quality of debating in general, in order to enrichdemocracy and allow citizens to make well informed decisions in this year’s election.