A critical analysis of the 2008 mediation in Zimbabwe: an exploration of the main debates and criticisms

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dc.contributor.advisorNathan, Laurieen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorWalker, Carolineen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-02T09:50:08Z
dc.date.available2014-09-02T09:50:08Z
dc.date.issued2013en_ZA
dc.description.abstractSince independence in 1979 Zimbabwe has experienced periods of great conflict and instability. The chief explanation for this is the ruling party ZANU-PF's monopolistic attitude to rule. The party has historically quashed attempts at opposition, drawing its political legitimacy from its role in the liberation struggle. 2008 election results favouring the opposition lead to ZANU-PF inflicted violence, including retributive attacks on former ZNAU-PF supporters. The SADC mandated an Mbeki-lead mediation following this violence. Mugabe accepted the mediation due to historically minimal criticism from Mbeki, yet had no intention to sincerely share power with opposition MDC factions. Even though ZANU-PF was in a legitimacy crisis it refused to cede power. This is clearly evident in the poor implementation of GPA and resuscitation of old problems as well as the development of new problems between the parties. The extent of the legitimacy crisis is an important issue here. Even though some critics laud the mediation as a landmark in the country's history and attribute it some success, the lack of respect for the agreement undermines these notions. The case highlights the difficulty for a mediator to bring positive peace, especially in the context of an historically one-party militarized state. It has further bearing on mediation in general when it shows how mediation success can only be judged in the long run, regarding parties' implementation of agreements. If power patterns remain the same post mediation, as they do in Zimbabwe, the mediation should be seen as a failure.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationWalker, C. (2013). <i>A critical analysis of the 2008 mediation in Zimbabwe: an exploration of the main debates and criticisms</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6806en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationWalker, Caroline. <i>"A critical analysis of the 2008 mediation in Zimbabwe: an exploration of the main debates and criticisms."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6806en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationWalker, C. 2013. A critical analysis of the 2008 mediation in Zimbabwe: an exploration of the main debates and criticisms. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Walker, Caroline AB - Since independence in 1979 Zimbabwe has experienced periods of great conflict and instability. The chief explanation for this is the ruling party ZANU-PF's monopolistic attitude to rule. The party has historically quashed attempts at opposition, drawing its political legitimacy from its role in the liberation struggle. 2008 election results favouring the opposition lead to ZANU-PF inflicted violence, including retributive attacks on former ZNAU-PF supporters. The SADC mandated an Mbeki-lead mediation following this violence. Mugabe accepted the mediation due to historically minimal criticism from Mbeki, yet had no intention to sincerely share power with opposition MDC factions. Even though ZANU-PF was in a legitimacy crisis it refused to cede power. This is clearly evident in the poor implementation of GPA and resuscitation of old problems as well as the development of new problems between the parties. The extent of the legitimacy crisis is an important issue here. Even though some critics laud the mediation as a landmark in the country's history and attribute it some success, the lack of respect for the agreement undermines these notions. The case highlights the difficulty for a mediator to bring positive peace, especially in the context of an historically one-party militarized state. It has further bearing on mediation in general when it shows how mediation success can only be judged in the long run, regarding parties' implementation of agreements. If power patterns remain the same post mediation, as they do in Zimbabwe, the mediation should be seen as a failure. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2013 T1 - A critical analysis of the 2008 mediation in Zimbabwe: an exploration of the main debates and criticisms TI - A critical analysis of the 2008 mediation in Zimbabwe: an exploration of the main debates and criticisms UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6806 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/6806
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationWalker C. A critical analysis of the 2008 mediation in Zimbabwe: an exploration of the main debates and criticisms. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2013 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6806en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Political Studiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.titleA critical analysis of the 2008 mediation in Zimbabwe: an exploration of the main debates and criticismsen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhilen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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