Resolving Intractable Conflict: Lessons from South Africa
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The transition to majority rule in South Africa stands out as a leading success story among efforts to negotiate the resolution of intractable political conflicts. Roelf Meyer, who served as the lead negotiator for the South African government during the negotiations that brought about an end to apartheid, will discuss the lessons learned during the South African transition about the peaceful resolution of disputes and their possible application to other intractable conflicts.
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Roelf Meyer served as Minister of Defense and Minister of Constitutional Affairs in the cabinet of former President FW de Klerk, prior to the transition to majority rule in South Africa. He served as Chief Negotiator for the government in negotiations on the settlement of the South African conflict. It was in this capacity that he negotiated the end of apartheid together with Cyril Ramaphosa, who was Chief Negotiator for the African National Congress (ANC) and is currently the President of South Africa conflict. After the transition to majority rule Mr. Meyer continued to serve as Minister of Constitutional Affairs in the Cabinet of former President Nelson Mandela. Since his retirement from politics, Mr. Meyer has served as an advisor in peace processes around the globe, including in conflicts in Northern Ireland, Sri Lanka, the Middle East, Rwanda, Burundi, Kosovo, the Basque Region, Guyana, Bolivia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Colombia, Myanmar, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, and the Central African Republic Mr. Meyer is presently a director of the In Transformation Initiative, a South African NGO that works to promote peaceful democratic transitions. |
