Evil and violence : illiberal beliefs in South Africa's liberal democracy

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis examines beliefs regarding spiritual conceptions of evil among South Africans and the role that such attitudes may play in outbreaks of public and other forms of violence. In examining these illiberal attitudes and consequent violence, the thesis contributes to the discourse on democratic consolidation in South Africa. It is argued that illiberal values – such as the belief in evil as a literal force which may be countered with violence - present a challenge to the country‟s liberal democratic system of governance. The thesis is both quantitative and qualitative in nature. It includes a longitudinal analysis of the secondary data of the World Values Survey. The latter is used for two purposes: to measure the extent of beliefs in evil among South Africans and to find predictors for these beliefs. Quantitative analysis revealed that the beliefs in evil is widespread in South Africa and that over half the population may believe that violence can be used to rid communities of persons deemed evil. However, despite an exhaustive quantitative analysis of independent variables – including demographic, socio-economic and attitudinal factors as well as trust and tolerance, locus of control and religiosity - no definitive predictors of the attitudes regarding evil could be found. It is concluded that the beliefs in question are so universal and entrenched in South Africa that they cannot be associated with any particular demographic or other group. In the absence of quantitative findings, the thesis turns to qualitative analysis to explain the widespread nature of illiberal beliefs in South Africa. The thesis examines the country‟s serious problems with crime and violence. It also posits that South Africa has experienced a decivilisation process in which liberal values have to compete with the absolute individualism of an Hobbesian state of nature.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University