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Parks that cross the borderline : transnational co-operation in Southern Africa

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this era of globalisation, the world is becoming more economically, politically and
ecologically interdependent, that is, there is a growing mutual vulnerability between
actors. The conditions of growing interdependence produce specific challenging
circumstances for the achievement of particular goals, -includinq that of sustainable
development. The Southern African context holds further obstacles to such development,
which include poverty, inequality, a history of racial conflict and colonialism, and a
regional economy on the semi-periphery of the global economy. It is my assertion that it
is in the mutual self-interest of states and other stakeholders (e.g. communities) to
approach this dilemma through transnational co-operation under the ethical umbrella of
sustainable development. Thus this thesis seeks to discover to what extent the
construction of Transborder Conservation Areas (TBCAs), relatively large areas which
straddle the borders between two or more countries and cover natural systems
incorporating one or more protected areas, can meet the criteria of sustainable
development, given these conditions. The three primary criteria used for measuring
sustainable development are community-based development; close linkages between the
environment and development; and co-operation on all levels. The Kgalagadi TBCA,
formally recognised on the 7th of April 1999 between South Africa and Botswana, serves
as the case study. The conceptual framework used for the analysis is a theory of cooperation,
as it applies to the field of International Relations. The key concepts employed
here are those of interdependence, co-operation, sustainable development and
institutionalisation. The research centers around three key issues: If sustainable
development is the way forward for Southern Africa, do TBCAs reflect and fulfill the
criteria as set forth by sustainable development? What does the experience of TBCAs in
Southern Africa tell us about co-operation, recognising that TBCAs can only succeed if it
has a sound base in the awareness and engagement of people? And, how best can
decision-makers go about establishing TBCAs? Ultimately the thesis is a call to Southern
African countries to embrace this new form of utilising the environment. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie era van globalisering is die wêreld besig om ekonomies, polities en
ekologies meer interafhanklik te word, met ander woorde, daar is 'n toenemende
wedersydse kwesbaarheid tussen akteurs. Toenemende interafhanklikheid produseer
spesifieke uitdagings ten opsigte van die bereiking van sekere doelwitte, insluitend
volgehoue ontwikkeling. Daar is besondere hindernisse op die weg na volgehoue
ontwikkeling in Suidelike Afrika, is byvoorbeeld armoede, ongelykheid, en verlede
gekenmerk deur rassekonflik en kolonialisme, asook en regionale ekonomie op die
semi-periferie van die globale ekonomie. Dit is in die wedersydse belang van state en
ander betrokke partye (bv. gemeenskappe) om hierdie dilemma te benader deur
middel van transnasionale samewerking onder die etiese sambreel van volgehoue
ontwikkeling.
Hierdie tesis probeer vasstel tot watter mate die skep van Transnasionale
Bewaringsgbiede, of sogenaamde "Vredesparke" (Transborder Conservation Areas =
TBCAs), d.w.s. relatiewe groot areas aan weerskante van die grens(-e) tussen twee
of meer lance en wat natuurlike stelsels dek wat ten minste een beskermde gebied
inkorporeer, kan voldoen aan die kriteria vir volgehoue ontwikkeling, gegewe die
bogenoemde konteks. Die drie primêre kriteria wat gebruik word om volgehoue
ontwikkeling te meet is gemeenskapsgebaseerde ontwikkeling; die hegtheid van die
verhouding tussen die omgewing en ontwikkeling; en samewerking op alle vlakke. Die
Kgalagadi TBCA, amptelik op 7 April 1999 tussen Suid-Afrika en Botswana erken,
dien as die gevallestudie. Die konseptueie raamwerk wat gebruik word in die analise
is 'n teorie van samewerking, soos dit van toepassing is op die veld van
Internasionale Betrekkinge. Die sleutelkonsepte wat gebruik word is
interafhanklikheid, samewerking, volgehoue ontwikkeling en institusionalisering. Die
navorsing sentreer rondom drie sleutelkwessies: lndien volgehoue ontwikkeling die
weg vorentoe vir Suidelike Afrika is, weerspiëel en voldoen TBCAs aan die vereistes
van volgehoue ontwikkeling? Wat kan ons wys raak oor samewerking na aanleiding
van ons ervaring van TBCAs in Suidelike Afrika, gegewe dat TBCAs slegs kan slaag
indien dit gefundeer is op gemeenskapsbewustheid- en deelname? Laastens, wat is
die beste manier waarvolgens besluitnemers TBCAs kan vestig? Ten slotte is hierdie
studie 'n beroep op die besluitnemers In Suidelike Afrika om hierdie nuwe wyse
waarop die omgewing benut kan word, te ondersteun.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/51868
Date04 1900
CreatorsMorton, Nicola
ContributorsNel, P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format138 p. : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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