Oor die politieke akkommodasie van groepe in plurale samelewings

Abstract

On the political accommodation of groups in plural societies. The population of South West Africa/Namibia is presently considering two constitutional proposals: the proposal for a (by and large) unitary structure as opposed to a (substantially) federal one. Because a constitution should be viewed as a framework in which given values can be manifested, it follows that the greater the degree of homogeneity in terms of values, the easier the task of constitution-making; obversely, the greater the diversity in values, the more difficult it is to accomplish that which society desires, that is, an organic relationship between values and political structures. A plural society (like that of South West Africa/Namibia and of South Africa) is characterized per definition by a lack of common social will. This, as well as other ‘givens’, has serious implications regarding the process of constitution-making and, in the end, boils down to one crucial question: To what extent should recognition by means of separate polit...