Environmental concern in South Africa : an analysis of elite and public attitudes and their implications for public policy

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:South Africa, like so many other developing countries, is confronted with a very complexsituation: although large-scale environmental degradation is threatening the future of thecountry, environmental matters are not regarded as of sufficient importance amongst thegeneral population for them to contribute to environmental improvements. Most of thecountry's populations, many argue, are simply too poor and too focused on fulfillingshort-term survival needs to give priority to the environment.Employing the 2001 World Values Survey, this study analyzes the attitudes of the generalpublic of South Africa towards environmental matters. These attitudes are contrasted withthose of the elites, who have a disproportionate influence over policy-making, by lookingat the 2000 South African National Leadership Opinion Survey. This study finds that, ashypothesized, the general population of the country is quite unwilling (or unable) tocontribute materially or financially to environmental improvements, especially in relationto the elites.In the final part of the study, these findings are employed in the development of a set ofguidelines that policy-makers can use to increase the probability of developing successfuland effective environmental policies. These guidelines take into account the nature anddimensions of popular attitudes, and consider ways in which environmental policies canfoster the support of a public that is confronted with so many other serious issues.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University