Abstract This paper explores SouthAfrica's experience as a divided nation and its process of recovery in the past two decades. First, the paper considers the issue of affirmative action in SouthAfrica. The author then acknowledges that elements of apartheid still exist. In order to overcome this divisiveness, the author examines the experiences of other divided nations, such as Germany and Korea. The author concludes that apartheid in SouthAfrica has not ended, but has merely gone 'underground' so that it can still be active but not in the overt sense that it used to be.
From the Paper "The promotion of a collective or a group identity, therefore, necessarily involves subordinating the individuality that is seen within the group. Furthermore, being able to strengthen one's identity based on race, religion, language, or caste is also considered divisive and threatening to the equality and the freedom of the country (Gramby-Sobukwe, 2002). Quotas are then viewed as being a means to help achieve an equality of outcome by working to deny an equality of opportunity or a fundamental right of various individuals (Gramby-Sobukwe, 2002)."
Abstract This paper considers the best economic strategy for poor countries to develop and applies this to SouthAfrica. The paper notes the need for an infrastructure and for foreign investment from multinational enterprises in particular, with SouthAfrica having to overcome the economic damage done by the long-term and now abandoned policy of apartheid, which contributed to the high unemployment and poverty facing the country.
From the Paper "Economic development is a subject of study in the West and a vital necessity for the poor countries of the world. Technology is identified as one of the four key elements for a country to generate a higher standard of living, along with natural resources, capital, and a skilled workforce. Emerging nations today can take full advantage of the technological developments that have been made by developed nations (Mobius 37). A country like South Africa has particular difficulty today because of the long neglect of proper development during the decades of apartheid, when racial divisions created a lopsided economic system where whites benefited and blacks did not."
Abstract This paper looks at the history of SouthAfrica. It discusses the country's mineral wealth yet its economic poverty. It then analyzes its history of slavery and apartheid. The paper discusses the release of Nelson Mandela from prison and how he has led the people since then.
From the Paper "The Situation of South Africa South Africa has a unique history, which in many ways, forms a paradox. This forms a topic of interest for scholars, who study South Africa, readers, who see examples of South Africa from novels such as Alan Paton's Cry the Beloved Country, and firsthand accounts, those South Africans who live a life surrounded by poverty. South Africa is a land of extensive mineral wealth--in fact, it is the world's leading producer of such as gold and diamonds--the very symbols of wealth. It is home to some of the world's oldest fossils, and is home to a wide range of agricultural crops, and exports goods as well. South Africa also has a wide supply of coal and uranium for energy. This is a portrait of a country who sounds quite wealthy, but here again is an example of the paradox that surrounds South Africa. "
Abstract This paper discusses how SouthAfrica is an influential country on the African continent. As a result, its relations with near-by neighbors and its friendliness with Washington will greatly impact American standing and policy goals across the wide expanse of Africa. With this in mind, the following paper explores how South African foreign policy impacts America vis-a-vis the war on terror. Specifically, the paper looks at the complications which have arisen from SouthAfrica's recent embracing of rogue states like Libya and Cuba and the paper also examines how SouthAfrica's interventionist behavior under the aegis of the African Union can be used to protect American interests abroad and American lives at home by combating terrorism "over there" before it comes "here".
Abstract This paper considers a plan by General Motors as to whether or not to build a plant in SouthAfrica in the 1970s to take advantage of the access to cheap labor. F\The paper discusses how from a social point of view though there are good reasons why GM might not want to take this action. For one thing blacks are paid far less than whites in SouthAfrica for doing the same job and whites in SouthAfrica are paid far less than a laborer in the United States.
From the Paper "African history after the arrival of Europeans was a history of racial attitudes continuing after the end of the colonial era. In the modern era, apartheid was the major social structure affecting every aspect of South African society and South African relations with other parts of the world. Historians do not agree on the reason for the development of apartheid. What is clear is that more and more laws were passed to enforce a division of the races. Blacks were subject to searches, needed passes, were restricted in where they could live and work, and were generally treated differently than whites. Both races, however, were prevented from mixing. General Motors must decide whether or not to build a manufacturing facility in apartheid South Africa. From a business point of view, this could be justified on the basis of access to cheap labor."
Abstract This paper asserts that in order to understand the reasons and roots of apartheid, one must first understand the history of SouthAfrica. The author therefore provides a detailed historical account of SouthAfrica from the fifteenth century until today, including colonization, slavery, industrial development and the leadership of Hendrik French Verwoerd, the prime minister responsible for introducing apartheid. The second half of the paper is devoted to a study of the anti-apartheid movement, culminating in the election of Nelson Mandela.
From the Paper "Until the fifteenth century tribes in South Africa remained isolated from the rest of the world. However, late in the fifteenth century the Portuguese began to explore the western coastline of South Africa in search of an easier route to Asia. By1497, five years after Christopher Columbus had crossed the Atlantic under Portuguese patronage, Vasco da Gama led a Portuguese expedition that rounded the tip of South Africa, sailed along the east African coastline, and then crossed the Indian Ocean reaching Calicut, India."
Abstract This paper provides an overview of the black people's struggle for freedom in SouthAfrica from the 17th century onwards. It examines apartheid laws since 1948 and the Blacks success in finally getting rid of racial laws in the 1990s.
From the Paper "The freedom of Africans from apartheid in South Africa is considered as a remarkable event in the 20th century history, but the struggle for freedom began as early as the 17th century when the Dutch colonizers first set food on the land. The resistance by the Africans initially against the Dutch and later against the British resulted in many wars that ended in the reinforcement of their colonial subordination. Their colonial subordination took a different form than that of other colonized populations when the Afrikaner Nationalist Party enacted apartheid laws in 1948, establishing racial separation and white domination in all aspects of life. Apartheid was a system of government that was established through the ratification of 317 apartheid-related laws (Spindle). By segregating public services and public spaces, it restricted the social, economic, and political mobility of black people."
Abstract This is a thematic paper based on the example of SouthAfrica's imperialism and beyond, in Apartheid and anti-Apartheid movement, and correlations in a global Black Power movement of different manifestations. Through various points in the paper, a warning is made of the perils of including racial categories in future thinking, in the need for humanism as opposed to new categories or patterns as guidelines for assessing conflict in the future. The paper shows that there is a clear role for the artist and writer in presenting the inconsistencies of humanity and the need to guard against stereotypes of every variety.
From the Paper "Imperialism in South Africa produced archaic institutions that till the late 20th century, remained in effect, and in particularly South African forms. From the 1652 landing on the Cape, the Dutch put in place the foundations of a society distinguishing European and African, towards what Dunbar Moodie would describe in the 20th century as an Afrikaner 'civil religion'. (1975) When South Africa became part of the British Empire, different Afrikaner attitudes, practices and institutions were carried over, combined with Victorian British ideas of how colonies ought to be organized, and reinforcing a social order according to race that drew much from Social Darwinism as it shaped metropolitan British culture of the day."
Abstract The paper outlines the history of SouthAfrica and the implementation of apartheid, which is considered to be the root of many problems SouthAfrica faces today. The paper discusses how internally, the structure of government and society in SouthAfrica are troubled and full of power struggles. The paper also looks at the major social problems facing SouthAfrica, namely, the widespread outbreak of the HIV/AIDS virus and malaria, corruption and rampant crime in almost all parts of the country. The paper concludes that despite all this, SouthAfrica has overcome a significant amount of internal and external conflict in its rather short history. The paper uses MLA style footnotes but does not include a source page.
From the Paper "South Africa, at a glance, is a vibrant and magnificent country. Located at the southernmost tip of the continent of Africa, it is comprised of arid deserts and rocky mountains, as well as lush green forests and tropical flora. It shares its nearly 3,000 kilometer coastline with both the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. At a closer look, it has a unique political system, which serves a diverse myriad of inhabitants. Cape Town is the legislative capital, which means it contains the Parliament and many government offices; Pretoria is the administrative capital, which means it is the location of the head offices of the armies, police force, correctional services, and other national departments; and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital, where the high courts and Supreme Court are located."
Abstract The paper reveals that the United States, despite the fact that it publicly opposed the apartheid policy in SouthAfrica, failed to deny any trading or political talks with the country. The paper offers a brief introduction to the history of SouthAfrica, the policy of apartheid and its geostrategic implications for SouthAfrica. The paper analyzes US policy towards SouthAfrica and its role in the changes that took place in the country and shows how US policy was determined by the strategic interest in the region rather than the moral implication the apartheid policy had on the population in the country.
From the Paper "The Cold War was one of the most interesting and at the same time morally contradictory periods in the history of the human kind. It allowed states to publicly condemn other states and fight against their injustice and peace while at the same time actions were taken to boost economic ties and development, despite any sanctions or embargos imposed on the countries. One of the most relevant examples of the way in which the strategic thought tends to surpass the moral beliefs and considerations is the situation of the United States and South Africa during the Cold War but in particular during the period between the 1960s and the 1990s. This time in the history of the world and of the Cold War is of crucial importance because it laid the foundations for further diplomatic talks but at the same time it set the trend for the actual direction in which real politics was being conducted."
This paper outlines the types of violence against women in Africa, specifically SouthAfrica. It then gives the effects of AIDS and HIV on the situation.
Abstract Domestic violence, the most prevalent form of violence against women, remains a relatively obscure and ignored issue in reproductive health research and programming. The paper explains that, in countries like SouthAfrica, with a high prevalence of HIV, extremely high rates of rape and other forms of violence against women have been documented and may play an important role in women's greater vulnerability to HIV infection. It explains that, when looking at this issue, it is important to look at the rates of infection for Africa as a whole because all of the countries are affected. However, in SouthAfrica, the rates are extremely high, and the violence against women continues to grow.
From the Paper "Violence against the women in South Africa stems from several factors. The first factor is the history of the African people. Slavery has always been an epidemic that has plagued the people; giving some the feeling of superiority over others. This feeling of superiority has carried to men against women. Another factor is the wars that exist within Africa. White minorities in South Africa ruled the country until 1993 and with these White people were feelings of superiority. Activists fought against the White superiority and gained control of their country. According to BBC News, "The white governments had grand social engineering schemes which separated the races and involved the forced resettlement of hundreds of thousands of people. They poisoned and bombed opponents and encouraged trouble in neighbouring countries" (2)."
Abstract This paper explains that one of the main roles of the press in any democracy is that of a public watchdog that is vigilant over government activities on behalf of the people that government serves. The paper focuses on SouthAfrica as a point of reference and refers to the history of South African policy as well as certain European media policy counterparts, in order to gauge standards of media performance.
Outline:
Introduction
Media and Democracy
Media Policy in SouthAfrica External Media Policy
Policy Formulation Aspects
Internal Media Policy
Policy Formulation Aspects
The Gate keeping Function
European Media Policy
United Kingdom Media Policy
Italian Media Policy
German Media Policy
South African Media Policy History
Apartheid Era
After Apartheid
Comparison
Conclusion
From the Paper "One of the main roles that the press plays in any democracy is that of a public watchdog that is vigilant over government activities on behalf of the people that government serves (Krimsky, 2000). The media is a fundamental tool in the decision-making of the democratic government in any country. A democracy requires the people of the state to make choices and decisions on a daily basis. This therefore needs to be aided by a media and media environment that allows for objectivity through its content and the journalists and staff of the forms of media themselves. The media needs to inform, without judging (Krimsky, 2000)."
Abstract This paper examines how SouthAfrica's unique cultural, socio-economic, and political situation imposes difficult challenges for labor relations and human resource management. The paper explains that since the end of apartheid, the country has faced the problem of how to bring about substantive equality, including economic equality. The paper then looks at how the new South African government eschewed the redistribution approach, and instead opted to implement systematic and sometimes extreme forms of affirmative action. The paper also points out that a good example of the affirmative action policies the new South African government put in place is the Black Economic Empowerment initiative (BEE), which was established with the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act in 2004. The writer believes that this initiative is a good one from a human rights perspective. However, from a human resources point of view, the challenge of this situation must be that artificially speeding up the promotion of people who have been systematically denied good education for so long, creates a danger that under-qualified people will be in management positions. The paper concludes that the problem of providing adequate training for people who have for so long been excluded from management positions is likely the biggest current problem facing human resources managers, as SouthAfrica continues to change towards becoming a normal society.
From the Paper "However, despite such descriptions, this initiative does primarily aim to improve the economic lot of blacks - given that it is they who suffer most from inequality. It does this with measures such as legislation and regulation, which aim among other things to put more blacks in management. For example, there is the balanced scorecard, which assesses whether there is sufficient black ownership of companies, sufficient black senior management, sufficient black human resource development and employment equity, etc. These factors are imposed as codes on state bodies, public companies and foreign investment companies. How well companies do on the score card affects vital economic factors, such as whether they are awarded contracts (Alexander, 2004)."
Abstract This paper describes SouthAfrica's government, which is based upon a system of proportional representation and has sixteen registered political parties, spanning a variety of political points of view with a variety of regional affiliations. The paper examines the role of the South African President and relates that SouthAfrica has the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to give voice to the many diverse interests in a peaceful and democratic manner. The paper shows how the structure of the South African government strives to represent all possible minority and majority interests, in an effort to quell provincial and political tensions.
From the Paper "South Africa's government is a constitutional democracy based upon a system of proportional representation. In other words, its national legislature is a parliament, with two houses, the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). The parliament called the National Assembly awards seats to each political party based upon that party's proportionate support in the national election. Elections for the National Assembly are held every five years. The second general democratic post-apartheid election in 1999 in yielded a majority for the African National Congress (ANC) Party, the party famously lead by the imprisoned Nelson Mandela during the years of apartheid that disenfranchised most of South Africa's majority black population ("Government in South Africa," SouthAfricainfo, 2008)."
Abstract This paper takes a wide-ranging look at human rights around the world today, showing the key themes and issues currently affecting the international community. The introduction explains key terms necessary for the paper and gives a history of the development of human rights. The paper focuses on SouthAfrica as a case-study (though numerous other examples are cited where applicable). SouthAfrica is used as an example of a developing country whose human rights issues have been identified internally by the South African government as well as externally by the international community and then acted upon to some degree of success.
From the Paper ""Human rights" are rights that all humans are entitled to such as the right to live, the right to liberty, the right to freedom of expression and the right to equality within society. "Civil rights" and "civil liberties" refer to the guarantees that a state may make to its citizens and are offered in addition to one's basic human rights. Perhaps the best quantification of human rights (and the mostly widely accepted) is the United Nations? Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Although the UN's Declaration is over half a century old and has been savagely criticized at times it still serves as a useful guide to general ideals of human rights."
Tags: apartheid, declaration, mandela, nelson, united, nations
