Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa, like so many other developing countries, is confronted with a very complex
situation: although large-scale environmental degradation is threatening the future of the
country, environmental matters are not regarded as of sufficient importance amongst the
general population for them to contribute to environmental improvements. Most of the
country's populations, many argue, are simply too poor and too focused on fulfilling
short-term survival needs to give priority to the environment.
Employing the 2001 World Values Survey, this study analyzes the attitudes of the general
public of South Africa towards environmental matters. These attitudes are contrasted with
those of the elites, who have a disproportionate influence over policy-making, by looking
at the 2000 South African National Leadership Opinion Survey. This study finds that, as
hypothesized, the general population of the country is quite unwilling (or unable) to
contribute materially or financially to environmental improvements, especially in relation
to the elites.
In the final part of the study, these findings are employed in the development of a set of
guidelines that policy-makers can use to increase the probability of developing successful
and effective environmental policies. These guidelines take into account the nature and
dimensions of popular attitudes, and consider ways in which environmental policies can
foster the support of a public that is confronted with so many other serious issues. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika, soos soveel ander ontwikkelende lande, is gekonfronteer met 'n baie
komplekse situasie: alhoewel grootskaalse degradasie van die omgewing die toekoms van
die land bedreig, sien die algemene publiek nie omgewingskwessies as belangrik genoeg
om 'n bydrae te lewer nie. Die argument is dat te veel van die land se bevolking net te
arm of te gefokus is op die bevrediging van kort-termyn oorlewingsbehoeftes om
prioriteit te gee aan omgewingskwessies.
Deur gebruik te maak van die 2001 Wêreld Waardestudie, analiseer hierdie studie die
houdings van die Suid-Afrikaanse publiek teenoor omgewingskwessies. Hierdie houdings
word gekontrasteer met die van die elites, wat 'n disproporsionele invloed het oor die
beleidsmakingsproses, deur gebruik te maak van die 2000 Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale
Leierskap Opinie Studie. Die studie vind dat, soos gehipotiseer, die publiek onwillig (of
net nie in staat) is om bydrae te lewer tot die oplossing van omgewingskwessies, veral in
vergelyking met die elites.
In die finale afdeling van hierdie studie word die bevindinge gebruik om 'n stel riglyne te
ontwikkel wat deur beleidmakers gebruik kan word om die waarskynlikheid van
suksesvolle en effektiewe omgewingsbeleid te verbeter. Hierdie riglyne neem in ag die
natuur en dimensies van publieke houdings, en bring na vore maniere waardeur
omgewingsbeleide die ondersteuning van 'n publiek, wat gekonfronteer word met soveel
ander ernstige kwessies, kan opbou.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53413 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Zeelie, Hein |
| Contributors | Kotzé, H. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences . Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 90 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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