SPEECH AND DEMOCRACY: THE TUTU’S MBEKI’S EXCHANGE

  • Yehoshua Gitay Old Testament Stellenbosch University
Keywords: Language, Public Debate, Communication, Democracy, South Africa

Abstract

The paper is motivated by a sharp exchange of words between Thabo Mbeki, the South African President and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the former Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee which ended in a communicative crisis. Given the premise of Democracy which is based on the freedom of opinion that is reflected through open criticism and debates, this paper studies the power of words in the course of public delivery. The paper examines specific theories of verbal communication and provides a theoretical framework of communicative public discourse which is a crucial factor in securing the essence of Democracy.

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Published
2013-06-12
Section
Articles