SOCIAL DIMENSIONS AS A PROMISE AND CHALLENGE FOR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Speech given in a Seminar “The New South Africa: Opportunities for Trade, Investment and Partnership” on April 10, 2002, in Helsinki
Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Friends,
It is an honour for me to join today
with this distinguished group. We have come here in order to face the
challenges of the New South Africa. They are challenges that touch the whole
international community, but especially the so-called developed countries.
Today, however, they are addressed
specifically to Finnish decision-makers, who have responsibility for our
industrial, entrepreuneurial and financial organisations.
This morning's program has already
placed before us a demanding agenda. We have heard of the emerging global
significance of South Africa. We have learned about its economic
characteristics and about its extraordinary possibilities as well as about some
of its problems. We have reached a deeper understanding of the sad legacy of
the apartheid era and of the need of common international efforts for clearing
away the inherited injustices. We have
become aware of the immense task of social and economic integration of the
country and of the demands it places on its citizens. We have also heard South
Africa's call for new international partnership relations needed to turn the promises of the newly won
freedom and democracy from utopian dreams to a reality of the everyday life.
Having just visited Namibia, I am more
aware now than I was before of the significance of South Africa for all of
southern African and even for the whole sub-Saharan area. The impact is already
obvious. Take for example "The New
Partnership for Africa's Development" (NEPAD), launched officially in
October 2001, with South Africa as its key initiator. It is a plan for changing collectively the direction of African
development and stimulating the continent
to become an active and responsible partner within the world community. It has
already made clear that the signatory countries of Aftrica are determined to
stop the spread of the kind of malaise that disrupted the recent presidential
election in Zimbabwe and which destroys possibilities for authentic
partnership. In order that the new mood reflected by the NEPAD statement
will gain ground and signal a new
beginning for the benefit of the whole continent, it is vital that South Africa succeeds on the course, which was
mapped from the beginning of its new democracy in 1994. It should be underlined that the new South
Africa is, indeed, a sign of hope for its own people and for many people beyond
its borders. The bad news, which we frequently receive, about crime, AIDS, currency fluctuations, investment climate, and political scandals,
as disturbing as they may be, do not undo the historic significance of the
unique transformation of South Africa for the whole continent, and indeed for the whole world community.
The most recent history of South Africa
has three distinct elements which continue to impress me profoundly.
The first is the peacefulness of the
transition from apartheid rule to
democracy. To speak about a miracle is not an exaggeration. For decades gross
violence was used to maintain an unjust oppressive political and social order.
The South African army was built up for this purpose. The opposition forces,
which originally had been attracted to Mahatma Ghandi's example of non-violent
resistance, on its part began to
prepare for a seemingly inevitable military confrontation. The probability of
large-scale bloodshed was high in the minds both inside and outside South
Africa. Nevertheless, such a disaster never took place. Instead, the change of
the political order was bloodless and was implemented through free and fair elections,
indeed, through the first elections that were open to all without regard to
race. Desmond Tutu describes vividly in his recent book the jubilation that marked this historic
election.
"27 April 1994 was the day for
which we had waited many long years… The air was electric with excitement,
anticipation and anxiety, and with fear that those on the right wing who had
promised to disrupt this day of days might succeed in their nefarious schemes…
Anything could happen… So here we were, about to carry out what was a routine
political and civic act in normal countries where the concern was usually about
voter apathy, not about the risk of violence and mayhem at the polls. … There
was a tight knot of anxiety in the pit of my stomach… I went to vote in Gugulethu,
a black township… The moment … came and I folded my ballot paper and cast my
vote. Wow! I shouted, 'Yippee!' It was giddy stuff, like falling in love. The
sky looked more blue and beautiful. I saw people in a new light… It was
dream-like. We were scared someone would rouse us and we would wake up back in
the nightmare that was apartheid's harsh reality…
After voting… people cheered
and sang and danced. It was like a festival…" (End of quote.)
The second element that impresses me, is
the determination of the political leaders of South Africa to build a truly
multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society, based on democracy and
respect of human rights, not just on paper but as a functioning reality. The
rifts deepened by apartheid era need to be overcome. The task ahead is far more
complex than what the elimination of the racist categories of the apartheid
rule would seem to suggest. Long histories of the peoples who have inhabited
the country have to be taken into account.
The fact that there are eleven
official languages in the new South Africa, says something of its
diversity. Out of this multitude
peoples with their distinct histories, traditions and cultural
characteristics there is to emerge one functioning society, the Republic of
South Africa. The Preamble of its Constitution of 1996 states the goal with clarity: (quote)
"We therefore, through our freely
elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the
Republic so as to -
- Heal the divisions of the past and
establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental
human rights;
- Lay the foundations for a democratic
and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and
every citizen is equally protected by law;
- Improve the quality of
life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and
- Build a united and democratic South
Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of
nations.
May
God protect our people."
Too many countries of the world are
still led by persons and groups who support the dominance one-culture,
one-race, one-religion system. The New South Africa offers now a different
model for the world's future.
The third element is the influence of
outstanding personalities, their motivation, their charisma and their moral and
spiritual roots. Their role is manifested by their follow-up of the transition.
They did not start with proposing new legislation to deal with past crimes nor
with court proceedings against the apartheid-administrators responsible for
racial violence, but with the appointment of Truth and Reconciliation
Commission and establishing a procedure for confessing and forgiving. The names
of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are among
those who have to be mentioned in this connection. They were able at a
God-given moment to focus public
attention on the human and spiritual dimensions of the transition and on the
ethical foundation of the new South Africa. . The signals which they communicated
are important not only for South Africa but for all those who are concerned for
peace and justice in our world, and especially for people and leaders caught by
violent social and ethnic conflicts. The title of Desmond Tutu's recent book is
indicative: "No Future Without Forgiveness".
The memory of the unique transition,
including the experience of the first elections, is an international heritage worthy to be fostered not only by
South Africa but by all of us who have been inspired by it. It is as important
part of our common history as the memories of the horrors of the past century.
With years the mood in every country
changes. So also in South Africa. Now the need to redress the injustices
of the past and to bring forth the tangible fruits of social and economic
equality is on the top of the agenda for people and politicians. A rocky uphill
road lies ahead. Both promises and problems abound on it. The sense of the
"new" of South Africa can also rapidly wear out, especially if conflicting interests begin to
undermine its ethical foundation, and if its "new" is viewed in the
North mainly by cynisism.
What does all this mean to us in
Finland? After my recent brief exposure
to southern Africa, I am convinced about the need of a significant international
recognition of the human and social achievements that have been accomplished in
the new South Africa, and about the need of
concrete acts of support from the international community for the building of a dynamic economic life that
benefits the whole population. Without
them we weaken the chances for the future of the new South Africa and the
prospects for the development of the continent.
The question, which this seminar poses
to us, is clear and direct. Will we,
and how will we, as Finns respond to the great social achievements attained in
South Africa? And how will we participate in strengthening the transition
toward social and economic justice? The full implementation of the vision of
the new South Africa is possible, but only in partnership of persons and
peoples prepared to investing their creativity and potential, indeed part of
themselves, to the realization of the vision. What should we say?
So far our response has not been clear.
We seem to face a strange paradox in Finland. While South Africa looks for many
too risky as a partner for investment and business, it looks too wealthy for our development agencies and
organizations who want the alleviate the hardships of the poorest of the poor. The strategic role of South Africa in
the continets development waits for recognition. Yet, partnership and active
cooperation is an explicit joint wish of South African authorities, NGOs and
churches.
The predominant attitude of Finnish industries,
businesses and investors seems to estimate risks in South Africa too big for
any serious involvement, not to speak of investments. Social and ethical
concerns seem to make the risks even bigger. They might limit the returns too
much. Nor is the view of South Africa as a strategic driver for the rise of
Africa's economy much noted yet by our media and by forums of economic
planning. There is little recognition in our press of the role South Africa is
playing in stimulating business ventures throughout the continent. Only a few
here have ventured to talk about the "black" South Africa as a major
growth area of the country's economy. The prospects for sound profits and the
acceptance of social and ethical concerns as part of criteria for healthy business,
are widely recognized in the business practices at home, but they have so far
been largely left out of Finnish business involvement elsewhere. This is why I
think, that South Africa gives us now an opportunity to make a major shift. The
opening which South Africa is offering
to make long-term investments in disadvantaged areas that have real potential
for future success coincides clearly with the call for social and ethical
responsibility.
Some of you are familiar with the recent
efforts to clarify contemporary Christian thinking on social and ethical
concerns within the Finnish Lutheran church. This work has helped to clarify
Christian understanding of the principles of social ethics and it has opened
our perspectives on many current issues of the Finnish society. International
or global considerations have received less attention. The two documents, to which I want to draw
your attention, are: (1) "Towards the Common Good -
Statement on the Future of the Welfare Society" issued by the bishops of
our church in 1999, and (2)
"Ethical Investment Policy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Finland" issued by the Church Council (Kirkkohallitus) in 2001. From the
point of view of this seminar's topics,
they may not lead very far. They are, I think, helpful for sorting
out fundamental principles and for
applying them to a Finnish context. With my visit to Namibia and being now faced with economic issues in
South Africa, I am aware that that the two statements do require some hard
follow-up on international dimensions of our chuch's policies and positions. We
cannot afford to be insular in our thinking and decision-making.
Yet there is a wider angle to all this.
A new perspective is dawning in the international scene of a world, in which
social and ethical concerns and the goals and methods of economic and business
life are no longer separated from one another and in which socially oriented
business partnerships thrive. The new South Africa is a concrete manifestation
of it. There are many signs that such a
vision is gaining ground in different parts of the world. For us, decision makers in the Finnish
society - after all, we represent here a variety of sectors of our national
life - a special opportunity is
presently opening to test new concepts of socially responsible partnership, and
try out new concepts of development cooperation in a joint response to the call
of the new South Africa. Such an effort could have positive repercussions for
not only in South Africa, but among ourselves.
Let me conclude simply by saying that we
in the Finnish churches try to take heed of the messages conveyed to us from
the new South Africa. I trust that my church will not turn its back to the
calls to partnership.