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Insights from Political Adversaries: Roelf Meyer & Mohammed Bhabha
October 16 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
They negotiated the end of apartheid in South Africa, what can we learn from them?
Americans have more in common than they imagine. Across the political spectrum, Americans are tired of divisiveness and incivility and yearn to connect across the political divide to address our shared challenges. It is time to act with greater urgency and courageous leadership. We can overcome toxic polarization. Global leaders in countries such as South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Guatemala, have modeled the core values of cooperation and compromise at the heart of democracy and worked across intensely polarized political divides to successfully stabilize their countries. Around the world and throughout history, bitter political adversaries have put aside their political differences and worked together to fulfill their shared commitment to democracy and defend their countries from the forces of polarization and division.
In October, the William D. Ruckelshaus Center and Civic Genius, are bringing two of these global leaders to the U.S. for a series of public and private forums in Seattle and Spokane to share their firsthand experiences and lessons in resolving deeply complex conflicts and strengthening their nations.
Roelf Meyer (South Africa)
Roelf Meyer is renowned for his pivotal role as the South African government’s chief representative in the negotiations to end apartheid and establish a multiracial democracy. His influence in persuading the National Party and the Afrikaner community to embrace negotiations and pursue a more just society is credited as crucial to South Africa’s peaceful transition. Meyer’s significant contributions extend to his involvement in the cabinet of former President Nelson Mandela, co-founding the United Democratic Movement (UDM), and consulting on international peace processes in various countries.
Mohammed Bhabha (South Africa)
Mohammed Bhabha is a former Member of Parliament, attorney, and experienced negotiator. He was part of the African National Congress (ANC) team at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), and later as part of the agreements on the final South African Constitution. Mohammed has worked on transitional and constitutional support projects in Kenya, South Sudan, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Palestine, Bahrain, and Zimbabwe.
Parrington Hall, Room 360
3:00 – 4:30 PM, Wednesday, October 16, 2024