| Abstract: | The process of social disintegration which is taking place in South Africa, differs from its USA counterpart in that it comprises the majority of South Africans and in that it is not only a black problem. This paper, which was delivered at a Joint Enrichment Project workshop on marginalized youth in June 1991, examines the following questions: What are the causes of social disintegration in South Africa? Why has it taken so long for this phenomenon to surface given the extent and widespread nature of deliberate impoverishment of the black majority by the white minority? What accounts for the continued success of some individuals and groups within the most affected communities? The paper shows that the answer to these questions lies in human resilience and the elaboration of coping strategies for survival. The conclusion is that social disintegration will not disappear with the institution of a democratically elected government. A starting point in a strategy to stop the process of disintegration is the recognition of the residual capacity within the black community to respond to positive intervention. Ref. |
AfricaBib 
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