Intolerance in KwaZulu‐Natal: illustrating the complexity of tolerance attitudes

ABSTRACT

One of the processes of consolidating democracy is the development of a democratic culture of which political tolerance is a crucial ingredient. Tolerance, however, is a puzzling and complex attitude because it does not correlate well with other indicators of democracy. A better understanding is needed of the link between political tolerance and civil liberties, the indicators of tolerance, the link between tolerance and public policy, the malleability of tolerance attitudes, the role of political leaders in the creation of tolerance and the link between intolerant attitudes and political behaviour. This article attempts to shed light on these aspects and then to illustrate the complexity of tolerance attitudes with a case study of intolerance in KwaZulu‐Natal.