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A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Philosophy Underlying the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission

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A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Philosophy Underlying the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission Making the Intractable Conflict Tractable: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Philosophy Underlying the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Olugbenga-Jay OGUNTUWASE A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Nottingham Trent University For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy October 2018 Copyright statement This thesis has been submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Nottingham Trent University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. I agree that the re-use of information derived from this thesis should not be published without the prior consent and referencing of the author and the University. Requests or queries for any other use of this thesis, or if a more substantial copy is required for the purpose of publication, should be directed to the owner of the Intellectual Property Rights. The confirmation of the copyright is stated with the date below Olugbenga-Jay OGUNTUWASE Signature ……………….. Date ………………… II Dedication This thesis is specially dedicated first to the Glory of God and My Darling Wife, Denike Micheal, Who stood solidly behind me like the rock of Gibraltar through thick and thin to ensure that I get the PhD on the staunch belief that persistence and perseverance inevitably lead to success. III Acknowledgement I would like to sincerely appreciate God Almighty and everyone that has contributed immensely by offering his or her support in one form or the other towards the completion of this PhD. To my Director of Studies, Dr Kevin Love, my sincere appreciation for your exceptional support, encouragement, guidance and advice throughout the experience with this research. I have been able to learn from him the beauty of standing out by swimming in the deep end of complexity within obscurity yet in clarity in order to break the boundaries of knowledge and the creation of new ideas that knows no bound. The need to continuously search for academic excellence in the deep sea of knowledge, no matter how complex it maybe, knows no bound for Kevin. He is a highly admired scholar par excellence. Same for my second Supervisor, Dr Jon Gorry, a cool, calm, cheerfully calculated and result orientated personality that is clearly focused. His organisational skills and out of the box thinking is contributory towards making this dream a reality. Credit must be given to Jon for not just suggesting South Africa as the place that could provide the empirical evidence needed for this research, but when we got to crossroads, he took valuable time that he had none to put finishing touches to this work. Also, I appreciate Prof. Matt Henn for taking an interest in me, right from the point of the interview. Same for my Internal Assessor, Dr Chris Baker-Beall, whose imputes gave the clinical finishing to work. Worthy of honour is the invaluable contribution of that Russian trained intellectual Colossus, my uncle, and mentor Emeritus Professor Ezekiel Kolawole Ogundowole, for singlehandedly charting the course of my academic journey in life. This journey was supported by his wife, Mrs Zoya Ogundowole; Other remarkable mentors are Professor Sunny Nwankwo of UEL and Defence Academy in Kaduna who resuscitated me when confronted with racism and academic death here in the UK. There is also Professor Idowu Sobowale, who not only trained me, in the art and science of communication, but twice offered me jobs without asking. Also in this category, are Pastor, Dr Kanmi Alo and his wife, here in the UK, Prophet Ayo Jessey who intervened when it mattered most. Others are my friends and colleagues in the Graduate school, Steve Quartey, Mustapha, Sister. Paulin Odeyemi, Nike Fadahunsi, Dr Dammy, Barr. Chinedu, Nash, Silvia, Azin , Dele, Ramani and Olu who took the time to get this work camera ready for printing. Other remarkable individuals are officers of the Graduate School, particularly Imogen, Gemma and Dawn James to mention just a few. I also want to appreciate members of my immediate and extended family as well as friends who are both far and near, yet their encouragement and support knows no bound. First on this list is my wife, Denike Micheal, to whom this work is specially dedicated, largely for her belief in my ability is unrepentantly marvellous. My parents, Chief and Mrs S. O Oguntuwase, My sister, Yetunde and her husband, Adebija, and my other siblings, My friends, Pastor (Dr )Adekoya, Dr Cyril Azenabor, Dr Sammy Omosule., Dr Lee, and Senator Babafemi Ojudu whose encouragement was salient yet resounding. Also remarkable is the encouragement of my friends,Anties and Uncles in Nigeria, Mrs Tiyamiyu, Narcotic Commander Segun Oke, Barr. Emma Iloba, Koya Owoaje, Bola Adelegbe, Shehu Omoloja, Chidi-law, Dr Patrick Oloko, Dr Eric Usifoh, IV Razaq Akanbi, Olowo and lastly my late friend Abayomi (Spy) may his gentle soul rest in peace. Also to be remembered is my Cousin, Barr Adesina Oladokun and wife, Nike for their unflinching support all through the journey. My pastors and motivators in church, Pastor Sola Oludoyi, Pastor. Seyi Fawole, Pastor. Adedibu, Pastor. Ogunleye, Pastor SB, Mummy Belah, Dr Opute, My Teacher, Brother Kingsley, Sister Adeeko, Brother Johnson, Barr, Omololu, Deacon, Obinna and all the Leaders of the Men's Fellowship and those of the Media and all the people who took special interest in my family and I in Royal Connections, and whose names cannot be specifically mentioned for lack of space and protocol not importance, I say Thank you. Pastor. David Longe and Sister Moji. I appreciate you. Others are Uncle John and his wife Auntie Effie Blankson, Sister Taiwo, Mrs Colonel: Yetunde Bolakeji and Dayo Olutunde (Mum Richard) for taking out time to come with us to Nottingham as I settle down in school when the programme started four years ago. Also, Sister Sade, for supporting the family, and all others who truly support us either as individuals or as a family. Then my friends in London, Taiwo Peleyeju, Olaitan and his wife, Dr Victoria, Bayo, Nasiele, Aisha, Steve, Princess Mujirat Abdul, Carol Momoh and all others whose name I may not have specifically mentioned who had supported me individually and as a family all through this period. I appreciate you all. May God Almighty reward you all even if I have not specifically mentioned your name. Thanks V Thesis Abstract The world is still groping under the yoke of seeking lasting solutions to some stubborn international conflicts that have resisted myriad resolution attempt with no solutions still in sight. This is despite the imposing presence of the UN and the growing sophistication in the art and science of conflict resolution. The compelling fact necessitating this research is that the world has classified such age-long conflicts as “intractable” giving the impression of fait-accompli. Excitingly, the 1994/95 collapse of the 48years Apartheid conflict, which was hitherto regarded as one of the world’s worst intractable conflict, was a contradiction of this idea of intractability. Hence South Africa Blaise the trail that these so-called intractable conflicts are tractable after all. This research aims at identifying the totality of instruments employed by South Africa to achieve this success. While operating within a multidisciplinary purview of the intersection between, Politics, International Relations, Philosophy as well as language and Communication. The methodology of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Giorgio Agamben’s “Exclusive Inclusive Philosophy of the Homo Sacer”, were applied in the analysis and interpretation of the emerging narratives from the TRC report. The purpose is to discover the underlying theories and principles that animate the mediation process in order to understand this South African recipe for intractable conflict. Emerging from the above processes is the discovery that the South African success story rests on a home-grown intervention process. That which involves negotiations that ultimately led to the emergence of a new constitution and the Institution of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which is vested with the responsibility of dealing with the atrocities of the past, in a manner that creates no winner or loser. The findings further reveal, that underlying these negotiations and operation of the TRC is the fundamental principle of “deconstruction of absolute ideas”. Emanating from this were a set of seven paradoxical couplets upon which the South African success story was brewed. These Seven paradoxes constitute a significant contribution to knowledge. They include Peace without Reconciliation, Unification without Harmony, Healing without Forgetting, Confession without Remorse, Amnesty without Forgiveness, Tolerance without Friendship, and Truth without Justice. VI List of terms and abbreviations TRC – Truth and Reconciliation Commission SA – South Africa RSA- Racial South Africa TRCR- Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report CDA- Critical Discourse Analysis UN-United Nations VII Table of Content Copyright statement ..................................................................................................... II Dedication .................................................................................................................. III Acknowledgement ....................................................................................................... IV Thesis Abstract ........................................................................................................... VI List of terms and abbreviations ................................................................................
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