Islam and Civil Society in South Africa Prospects for Tolerance and Conflict Resolution On 27-29 Safar 1415/5-7 August, 1994 University of South Africa Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Somehow, apartheid brought with it unexpected benefits, such as
the formation of an effective civil society. In addition to the fact that
South Africa currently enjoys a preferential status in the international
community, over the decades state-driven apartheid was resisted by a
strong civil society and mass-based organizations. There may be some
validity to the argument that since the inception of a peaceful transition
to democracy, community-based organizations, nongovernmental
organizations, and others have somewhat receded from the
scene and, in so doing, have weakened civil society. Yet it would be
incorrect to say that the new state dominates the postapartheid society.
It was to explore the dynamics of the Muslim role in civil society
that the UNISA conference was convened. Several speakers reflected
on the experience of civil society in the Muslim world (John
Esposito), Sudan (John Voll), Tunisia (Rashid al-Ghanushi), and
Africa in general (Ali Mazrui). All together, some twenty-three papers
dealing with various aspects of South African civil society were
presented. Issues related to gender discourse in Islam (Amina WadudMuhsin),
culture and conflict (Richard Martin), and interpreting Islam
in a postmodern world (Tamara Sonn) were also discussed.
The conference discussion was often lively, largely due to the
attendance of more than two hundred people for three days. While
this format facilitated general public participation, it also inhibited a ...