Winds of change are blowing across large sections of the globe, with the political crises in Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union and South Africa presenting a new challenge for theology. Hitherto the task of liberation theologians has essentially been to say ‘No’ to all forms of oppression. The prophetic ‘No’ must, of course, continue to be part of a liberating theology. As the enduring struggle for democracy in some parts of the world begins to manifest itself in differing degrees of success, however, so the prophetic task of the church must include a thoughtful and creative ‘Yes’ to options for political and social renewal.

Crisis fatigue and political indifference on the part of those removed from the anguish of oppression, together with a relentless longing to break down and destroy by those who have suffered most over generations of authoritarian rule, is slowly giving way to a measure of cautious optimism in South Africa. It is an optimism inter-mingled with a fear that the winds of change might become simply another whirlwind, without the promise of anything decisively new. This would result in further polarisation, conflict, violence and human defeat – a possibility with which society is always obliged to contend.

In the wake of these developments seers, prophets and political pundits are eager to make pronouncements, offer predictions and project Utopian solutions. Commenting within a lesser climate of expectations some years back, British historian E. P. Thompson observed: ‘watch …for a century or two before you cut your hedges down!’ His words are sobering and come as sound advice for those engaged in important global and regional struggles for qualitative change.