Politieke alternatiewe vir Suid‐Afrika op soek na ‘n nuwe paradigma

Abstract

Abstract In this article the present political conditions in South Africa are reviewed. The framework used is that of Thomas Kuhn who as philosopher of science examined the way in which scientific paradigms succeed one another. According to Kuhn political revolutions (or change) take place in exactly the same way as scientific revolutions (or change). According to him the most important reason for this is that in both cases anomalies arise which cannot be accommodated by the prevailing paradigms. Alternative paradigms are then considered, but are only accepted if they can remove the anomalies of the first paradigm. As far as political change in South Africa is concerned, the prevailing political order is examined first and the premises, motivations and objectives of the policy of separate development are stated. Attention is paid to the following problems experienced with the implementation of this paradigm: political problems; economic problems; geographic problems; and international problems. The anomal...