Peace, Development, and the Unresolved Land Issue in South Africa

Power sharing where former enemies form joint governments are common stipulations in peace agreements. However, such governments often mean political deadlock and about half break down into a return to civil war (Jarstad & Nilsson, 2008). South Africa is a case where power sharing involving parties representing both Blacks and Whites eased the transition from apartheid to democracy, and its success has often been referred to as a “miracle” (Sparks, 2003, p. vii). Yet, a quarter century after the end of apartheid, it is clear that a major issue that was not resolved during the peace negotiations—the land issue—still shapes the character of the peace. Thus, the case of South Africa highlights the crucial but often overlooked role of land issues in peace building.