Submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology in the Department of Sociology at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 1996. / This research is based on Gang Conflict in the South African Prisons, with special reference to Waterval prison, 1980-1992. This research primarily attempts to describe the prison subculture in terms of its characteristics and influence as they relate to conflict situations. Furthermore, it outlines this phenomenon as it affects the behaviour and attitudes of prisoners in general and prison officials in particular. In assessing the major impact of Gang Conflict as a form of deviance towards prison officials efforts to rehabilitation, the theories of Robert Merton as well as that of Karl Marx (i.e. Anomie and Alienation) have a tremendous influence in this study. Other sociological theories are considered as contributory to the study. For purposes of collecting data, a survey questionnaire was administered to 50 prison warders, with more than 3 years experience, drawn from the total population of Waterval prison warders. To put the study of Gang Conflict in context, chapter 2 contains the background and development of Waterval Prison, which does not justify the conditions and treatment of priosners. Regarding some gangs found in the South African prisons, chapter 3 gives an exposition to the origin, structure and function of most important prison gangs. Chapter 4, further outlines the character of prison subculture and its influence on deviance to both prisoners and and prison warders. The existence and survival of prison gangs are due to factors both inside and outside the prison. In the light of the findings of this study, the following was recommended: * The need for further research in a number of aspects, related to this problem and the service structure facilities needed. * The image of warders should be actively enhanced. Their sense of responsibility, loyalty, educational level, in-service training and ability to cope professionally with their task should receive top priority to combat gangs. This enhancement is further recommended to other prison departments, to ascertain a cross-cultural picture. * Prison officials should always be on the look-out for gangs and strict control measures by all personnel against gangs may be simple solution to the problem. Therefore, they should be able to identify gang members. * Health and welfare services as well as psychiatric and psychological services should be common functions of the prison without class interests. This might consolidate in the total eradication of Prison Gangs.

The field of mediation within peace and conflict studies has remained almost entirely focused on state-based armed conflicts and traditional non-state armed groups (NSAG). This restricts our ability to address other actors and emerging forms of conflict in non-conflict and post-conflict settings. This includes a certain classification of gangs who display strong similarities to typical NSAGs. This study analyses gang mediation and its effects on levels of violence in gang conflicts in El Salvador through the lens of traditional mediation theory from the field of peace and conflict studies. It seeks to answer the question, how does mediation influence levels of violence within gang conflicts? More specifically, addressing the hypotheses that, mediation between gangs, and government support for mediation, will likely lead to lower levels of violence. Using a qualitative comparative case study method, employing a structured, focused comparison between three different time periods in El Salvador, I find support for both hypotheses, showing that gang mediation leads to a significant reduction in violence albeit conditional on government support. In addition, factors such as dialogue, information sharing, leverage, concessions and the signing of an agreement are essential in the process between mediation and lower levels of violence.