Catapulted into democracy: South African adolescents' sociopolitical orientations following rapid social change

In this article, we explore the effects of the political transformations in South Africa on the orientations of adolescents to these changes. The stud y was conducted between 1992 and 1996. This period includes the first negot iations toward a new political dispensation for the country, the first demo cratic elections of April 1994, and the first ew years of post-apartheid de mocratic governance. Informed by generational and life span approaches, thi s study examined some effects of these changes on 14- and 17-year-old adole scents. These adolescents grew up in racially segregated South African comm unities, which had different experiences of the transformation process beca use of their position in the apartheid racial caste system. Results indicat e that the separate and differential life circumstances created under apart heid powerfully shaped orientations to the changes in South Africa since 19 94 All the adolescents expressed strong concern with the future. White adol escents in particular were alienated from many of the changes that have tak en place, while Black African adolescents were generally positive. Those of Indian and mixed racial descent showed a variety of responses, but were al so frequently negative or ambivalent In addition, perceived differences in the society at the two times of measurement generally had more powerful inf luences on the participants' orientations than did age.