Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law

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Browsing Faculty of Commerce, Administration and Law by Subject "Bargaining"

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    The politics of bargaining and negotiations in political conflicts with special reference to political settlements in Southern Africa
    (1993) Mathebula, Mbhekiseni Alpheus; Joubert, P.S.
    The 1989 general elections which brought Mr F W de Klerk to power could be referred to as the beginning of concrete action in the process of "Reform." Within a few months after this election, Mr de Klerk undertook what was referred to as "Pretoriastroika. "* What were supposed to be illegal mass demonstrations were suddenly declared legal. Long feared security prisoners were released and restrictions on banned organizations uplifted. High expectations were raised for the possibility of a negotiated settlement. In response to this new political development, the African National Congress (ANC) released its conditions for negotiations, the Harare Declaration, which stipulated the necessary steps to create a climate conducive to negotiations. The central theme in negotiations is the interplay of political forces trying to bargain from their various political positions. This is best demonstrated when the political positions are relative to the power commensurate to their bargaining strength. The process of bargaining at the negotiating table, especially in the political conflict, does not come about on moral grounds or through human will, it is brought about by circumstances created by the pull and push relationship between political elements in their struggle for dominance. It appeared that political development in South Africa had reached a stage where change was necessary to keep pace with global political developments, especially in the eastern communist countries, and in most "conflict infected" regions. Change is necessary only if it fits the occasion and is evolutionary, or reformist. Reform implies that the one in the position of power would like to reassert his position to 'ensure his continuation, i.e., lessening the pressure upon him to relinquish his position of power. A political analyst Dr Chaster Crocker pointed out that: "Organisationally, politically, and militarily the anti-racist movement (ANC) is not yet ready to topple the regime and the regime is no longer capable of curbing the growth of resistance."2 He further noted that; "Solutions often emerge when the parties are in some rough power balance in the power equation and when there is a real prospect that the level of mutual pain could increase if no solution occurs."3 In order to understand the internal political developments in South Africa, one needs to grasp the manifestation of power relations which moulded the political settlements in neighbouring States and how the political role players manifested themselves in an attempt to resolve regional conflict. Exploring the prospects for negotiations is not part of this research. However, the investigation is specifically intended to explore forces at play during negotiations or conflict resolution. It is intended to explore how political units bargain at the negotiating table; the interplay of internal and external factors to the conflict.
University of Zululand