Synopses & Reviews
The sense of hope generated by South Africa's unprecedented democratic transition is already giving way to the grimmer realities of how little has changed for the mass of the population. Whether it be jobs, income inequality, housing, or access to land, the powerful analysis contained in this book draws on, and develops, the rich structural and political understandings developed by radical South African intellectuals in the 1980s. It explains the reasons why the ANC, now that it is in power, has resisted calls for more radical options and instead pursued quite conservative economic management policies. The consequences -- in terms of continuing poverty, ongoing violence and, in the longer term, declining support for the ANC and democratic institutions -- are profound.
Synopsis
Drawing on the rich structural and political understandings of radical South African intellectuals, this book explains why the South African government has been unable to breach the boundaries of change erected by the privileged classes. It reveals why the government has adopted conservative economic policies and why the country's popular movement has failed to press home more radical opinions. By critically surveying the history of resistance and the strategies adopted by the apartheid state and its allies, and by casting new light on post-1994 developments, this book provides a critical analysis of South Africa's journey beyond apartheid.
About the Author
Hein Marais is the former deputy editor of Work in Progress and the coauthor of Popular Movements and the Struggle for Transformation in South Africa.