The Zuma Affair, Labour and the Future of Democracy in South Africa

Bassett, Carolyn; Clarke, Marlea

doi:10.1080/01436590802052763

Cited by 17 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Popular consent manufactured in South Africa and Taiwan can be a temporary phenomenon. Indeed, other alternatives may surge (see the case of populism in South Africa by Bassett and Clarke 2007). What are the future prospects of sustained development from following these "market-directed" roadmaps?…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Narrating Neoliberal Transitions: Rhetoric of the State in South Africa and Taiwan

Tsai

2012

Comp Sociol

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This paper investigates the rhetoric of the state in South Africa and Taiwan for installing neoliberal regimes. The ANC promotes a theory explaining why "tightening the belt" in the spirit of fiscal austerity is necessary for the post-apartheid economy. In Taiwan, the KMT state advances an argument that mobile capital free of border constraints promises favorable growth. The cognitive roadmaps the two states have crafted to influence people's conceptions of a "general interest" play a critical role in obtaining wider approval for the deepening of market institutions. By using a narrative method to anatomize the "economic stories" of these two middle-income states, our study contributes to seeing through the details of ideal structures and exposing their potential weaknesses in inducing a neoliberal order.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Narrating Neoliberal Transitions: Rhetoric of the State in South Africa and Taiwan

Tsai

2012

Comp Sociol

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“…The weaknesses of tripartism are compounded by growing challenges facing the labour movement. As a number of authors have argued, the close alliance of COSATU's leadership and the leading factions of the ANC seems less and less likely to serve the interests of rank and file workers (Bassett and Clarke 2008;Beresford 2012). Of course, these political links with the ANC have long been contested within COSATU (Buhlungu 2012: 3-4;Southall and Webster 2010).…”

Section: Tripartite Fantasies In Contemporary South Africamentioning

confidence: 99%

The International Labour Organization and African trade unions: tripartite fantasies and enduring struggles

Bernards

2017

Review of African Political Economy

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This paper examines the complex and contradictory history of interactions between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and trade unions in Africa from 1960-present. The paper focuses in particular on ILO efforts to deliver technical assistance to trade unions. I highlight the tensions raised by the mismatch between ILO's adherence to a particular view of industrial unionism rooted in Northern European experience, which I label the 'tripartite fantasy' and the political and economic realities of labour in Africa. The paper draws on original archival and interview evidence to trace out the subtle conflicts raised by these tensions. It focuses in particular on the difficulty in balancing the principle of freedom of association with efforts to promote 'unity' among African unions. These tensions played out most clearly in efforts to organise assistance to unions under apartheid. The paper concludes by reflecting on the difficult position of the ILO in contemporary African politics.

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“…GEAR "aimed at achieving sustainable long-term economic growth, based on fiscal and monetary discipline as well as the reduction of government debt" (Maree, 1998: 49). Roundly praised by the IMF and not unsurprisingly criticized by COSATU and the SACP, it adhered to the well-known neoliberal dictates of wage restraint for workers, easing of labor regulations, strict fiscal targets, and widespread privatization of state assets (Bassett and Clarke, 2008). The plan was popularly attributed to the efforts of Thabo Mbeki, who subsequently served as President of South Africa after Mandela.…”

Section: Protest In the Late-apartheid Periodmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Instead of acknowledging that the ANC had undergone radical change, COSATU generally preferred to focus on what remained of the "Left" in it. Accordingly, COSATU support for Zuma was central to his displacement of the overtly neoliberal Thabo Mbeki in 2007 (Bassett and Clarke, 2008). The ANC generated a transcendental form of loyalty -meaning that as an entity in itself, it is above reproach and that its failings can be attributed to its local functionaries.…”

Section: Dissent and Protest In The Anc Eramentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Diffusion of Protest

Porta¹,

Atak²,

Mendes³

et al. 2017

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Recent years have seen an explosion of protest movements around the world, and academic theories are racing to catch up with them. This series aims to further our understanding of the origins, dealings, decisions, and outcomes of social movements by fostering dialogue among many traditions of thought, across European nations and across continents. All theoretical perspectives are welcome. Books in the series typically combine theory with empirical research, dealing with various types of mobilization, from neighborhood groups to revolutions. We especially welcome work that synthesizes or compares different approaches to social movements, such as cultural and structural traditions, micro-and macro-social, economic and ideal, or qualitative and quantitative. Books in the series will be published in English. One goal is to encourage nonnative speakers to introduce their work to Anglophone audiences. Another is to maximize accessibility: all books will be available in open access within a year after printed publication.

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The Zuma Affair, Labour and the Future of Democracy in South Africa

Cited by 17 publications

References 11 publications

Narrating Neoliberal Transitions: Rhetoric of the State in South Africa and Taiwan

Narrating Neoliberal Transitions: Rhetoric of the State in South Africa and Taiwan

The International Labour Organization and African trade unions: tripartite fantasies and enduring struggles

Global Diffusion of Protest

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