Since 1990 the Center for International and Comparative Politics (CICP) has conducted an in-depth analysis of the social, political and economic transformation taking place in South Africa. Six opinion leader surveys (1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2000) have formed one of the core elements in this project and have allowed the Center to build up an extensive database on South African elite perspectives. In 2002 a survey focusing on NEPAD and the African Union was conducted in seven African countries in order to obtain accurate data on what elite perspectives regarding NEPAD and the African Union really entail.
South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal and Algeria were included in the survey as countries whose presidents are the main drivers for NEPAD and which have had a fair amount of exposure to the plan thus far. In addition Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe were selected as “outside” countries to allow for more accurate and detailed comparisons.
The survey was conducted under the auspices of the Center for International and Comparative Politics (CICP) at the University of Stellenbosch in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). Carefully chosen survey institutions were contracted to carry out face-to-face interviews in each of the countries selected. In a number of countries - South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria and Kenya - these companies were affiliated to Gallup International.
This preliminary report provides new insight on elite perspectives with regard to the African Union and NEPAD. The forthcoming publication of the survey will provide a more in-depth interpretation of these and other issues, as well as comparisons between the various countries on key aspects of the study.
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