2024 Theses Master's

Where To Go From Here? Addressing Broken Promises and Actualizing Equality in South Africa: Born Free Perspectives on Reconciliation, Race, Transition, and Peace

Akuoko, Akosua

Through the use of qualitative research with South African youth and subject matter experts, this paper seeks to highlight a diverse spectrum of youth centered perspectives regarding South Africa’s first free generation and its post-Apartheid transitional process.

This thesis begins by establishing the importance of youth and transitional justice when attempting to build forward-looking sustainable peace and furthermore, situates this notion in broader human rights scholarship and literature. Subsequent chapters provide qualitative analysis of interviews conducted in 2023 with 3 South Africans aged 18-29 and 2 experts in the field.

The findings and analysis of previously conducted interviews reflect an array of opinions with three main themes: racism and failed past accountability; the lack of implementation and intuitional trust; and grave need for economic restructuring. This research and its findings aim to thicken the already vast knowledge regarding South Africa’s transition by providing qualitative and inductive analysis focused on youth who are often under heard.