Gaining Influence but Losing Power? COSATU Members and the Democratic Transformation of South Africa1

Buhlungu, Sakhela

doi:10.1080/14742830801969316

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This type of evolution supports the sustained and incremental improvement of overall achievements by using a large representation of people and/or organizations, resource base, and built-up capacity (Quadrant I). Depending on internal and external factors, such as new leadership strategies, political changes, or socio-demographic evolutions, social movements (or parts thereof) tend either to marginalize or revitalize (Buhlungu, 2008;Rodgers, 2010;Voss & Sherman, 2000). When they become more marginalized, goals and/or tactics become less relevant or less supported by the base of the movement, while revitalization uses of an innovative and broader set of tactics to maintain and improve upon previous achievements.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most common examples given of centralized and formalized structures are contemporary labour movements. Buhlungu (2008) describes the case of the evolution of a union (Congress of South African Trade Unions [COSATU]), its structure and forms of action in South Africa in the years following the first democratic elections in 1994. The author describes how during the seventies and eighties this union, as part of the broader South African labour movement, built up a large base of supporters through its activities.…”

Section: Formal Centralized Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly, Buhlungu remarks that COSATU's organizational structure has been under pressure from external forces in South-African society in the last decade, such as globalization and the strong growth of democratization. Despite the fact that some contributions in the literature often indirectly assume institutionalization of a social movement as a final point of the evolution, Buhlungu (2008) argues that even these structures might be under pressure. Due to the above-mentioned external changes, the movement's structures might become subject to either marginalization or revitalization; revitalization being a process of change in response to the organization becoming too bureaucratic (formalized) and oligarchic (centralized).…”

Section: Formal Centralized Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social Movement Structures in Relation to Goals and Forms of Action: An Exploratory Model

Willems

Jegers

2012

CJNSER

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This article describes a theoretical taxonomy of the structural features of social movements. We begin by using two classification criteria to analyze the types of relations that characterize the structure of social movements. From there, we look at how differences in structure relate to different goals and forms of action. We then derive a four-fold classification system based on formalization and hierarchy of relationships. For each classification we provide case descriptions of social movements (or parts thereof) using literature on how different movement structures support different types of goals and forms of action. Furthermore, we discuss the dynamics of social movements (or parts thereof) and how their classification may evolve. By doing so, we illustrate how changes in structure, goals, and forms of action mutually influence each other. RÉSUMÉ Cet article dresse une taxonomie théorique des caractéristiques structurelles des mouvements sociaux. Nous utilisons d’abord deux critères de classification pour analyser les types de relation propres à la structure des mouvements sociaux. Par la suite, nous observons comment des différences de structure coïncident avec des buts et des formes d’action différents. Nous développons ensuite un système de classification quadruple fondé sur la formalisation et l’hiérarchisation des relations. Pour chacune des classifications, nous fournissons des descriptions de cas de mouvements sociaux (ou de parties de ceux-ci) en recourant à des écrits sur la manière dont des structures de mouvement différentes entraînent des buts et des formes d’action différents. En outre, nous discutons des dynamiques des mouvements sociaux (ou de parties de ceux-ci) et comment leur classification pourrait évoluer. Par ce moyen, nous illustrons comment des changements de structure, de but et de forme d’action s’influencent réciproquement.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Formal Centralized Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Formal Centralized Structuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social Movement Structures in Relation to Goals and Forms of Action: An Exploratory Model

Willems

Jegers

2012

CJNSER

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“…COSATU is, by a substantial margin, the biggest and most effective union federation in South Africa, with a membership of around 2 million in 2004. The survey covered various issues within the broad remit of parliamentary and workplace democracy, the more general findings of which can be found elsewhere (Buhlungu, 2006), and followed previous rounds in 1994 and 1998 (see Ginsburg et al, 1995;Brookes et al, 2004). As with the previous surveys, the 2004 survey covered COSATU members located in provinces where most of South Africa's population and industry are centred: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, and North-West Province; this meant that the small minority of COSATU members located on the rural periphery in other provinces were not covered for time and logistic reasons.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

The Challenges Facing the South African Labour Movement

Wood

Dibben

2008

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There is a growing body of literature on the role and impact of unions in the developing world, and on their ability to mobilize members against a background of neo-liberal reforms. The South African trade union movement represents a source of inspiration to organized labour worldwide, but has faced many challenges over the years. This article engages with debates on union solidarity and worker democracy, and draws on the findings of a nationwide survey of members of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) to explore the extent of fragmentation according to gender, age, skill level and ethnicity. The survey reveals regular participation in union affairs, democratic accountability, participation in collective action, and a strong commitment to the labour movement, but variation in levels of engagement between categories of union members indicates significant implications for union policy and practice.

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“…For an insight into popular politics in South Africa, polls of trade union members who keep saying that they are totally committed to the ANC, which has basically good policies and the only leaders they are prepared to obey, are striking evidence (Buhlungu 2005). The ANC makes mistakes, according to this view, and is always in danger of moral degeneration, but the solution lies in reminding rulers of their obligations with strikes, public demonstrations and other forms of expression, not in order to unseat authority but to remind it of the vox populi.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is There Such a Thing as a Post-apartheid City?

Freund

2010

Urban Forum

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In an introductory section, this paper considers briefly the achievements and problems of urban governance in post-apartheid South Africa through an assessment of three categories: administrative reform, developmental issues and conflicts over service delivery issues. It then goes on to assess continuity and change in South African cities. Continuity is the norm in understanding urban history with change understood as a series of accretions and as a layering of features, unless major economic shifts or revolutionary political shifts are in place. Using the example of Durban, a series of changes is highlighted, which fit into what the deracialized growth path allows and encourages. The paper argues that thus far, the ANC government has shown little capacity or desire to discipline capital along the lines suggested, for instance, by the reconstruction and development programme's section on public transport. Larger changes are thus limited by the predilections and established discourses of the business world and the absence of more dynamic and structured public intervention.

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Gaining Influence but Losing Power? COSATU Members and the Democratic Transformation of South Africa1

Cited by 15 publications

References 9 publications

Social Movement Structures in Relation to Goals and Forms of Action: An Exploratory Model

Social Movement Structures in Relation to Goals and Forms of Action: An Exploratory Model

The Challenges Facing the South African Labour Movement

Is There Such a Thing as a Post-apartheid City?

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