Democracy in South Africa : Will It Last?

Abstract

Originally published in Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books, 2004, Vol 49(4), 470–472. Reviews the book by Gibson and Gouws (see record 2002-06372-000) which describes the findings of a major survey-based research investigation of the prospects for democracy in South Africa. The authors go beyond just documenting the extent and nature of intolerance in South Africa. Their research also examines the possibilities of change: what the political culture of South Africa might become. Overall, this book makes important contributions to the study of political culture and political tolerance. It extends well-established western findings in an emerging and still fragile new democracy, but also makes important new contributions to theory and research. Its pioneering findings linking threat perception and group identities are particularly intriguing, even though the empirical evidence is still tentative. All in all, the book provides an excellent illustration of how good social science can contribute to theory, research, and our practical understanding of politics and society. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)