Contemporary South Africa / Anthony Butler.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Butler, Anthony, 1964-

Series:

Contemporary states and societies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

South Africa--Politics and government--1994-.

South Africa.

Politics and government.

South Africa--Economic conditions--1991-.

Economic conditions.

South Africa--Social conditions--1994-.

Social conditions.

Physical Description:

xii, 244 pages : maps ; 23 cm.

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan, 2009.

Summary:

South Africa has undergone tumultuous social and political change since putting the oppression and racial segregation of apartheid behind it. The twenty-first century, however, presents fresh challenges: the economy is vulnerable to a harsher international climate; unemployment, crime and violence, and HIV/AIDS threaten to undermine social cohesion; and a still-dominant African National Congress remains ambivalent about the merits of political pluralism and an open society.

This accessible, lively, and readable book looks behind the headlines to provide a broad-ranging and thought-provoking introduction to South Africa in the twenty-first century. Set in the context of South Africa's history and character as a 'rainbow nation', it illuminates the country's social, political, cultural, and economic life and its changing role in the world.

Contents:

1 Historical Context 5

South Africa before 1870 5

The Creation of the State, 1870-1910 12

Segregation and Early Apartheid, 1910-60 14

The Rise and Fall of 'high apartheid' 19

South Africa's 'transition to democracy' 23

The ANC in Government 31

2 A Rainbow Nation? 33

The Entrenchment of Apartness under Apartheid 35

Strength form Diversity? 36

The Diversity of the Provinces 44

Conclusions 53

3 The South African Economy 55

Introduction 55

Output and Expenditure 55

Economic Policy 58

Trade and Internationalization 63

Investment Flows 65

Public and Private Sectors 67

Selected Sectors of the Economy 68

Labour Relations 73

Balck Economic Empowerment (BEE) 75

Challenges 80

4 Social Structure and Social Policy 84

Human Development in South Africa 84

Explaining Inequality 89

Addressing Poverty and Inequality 91

Public Services and Social Infrastructure 98

Women and Disadvantage 107

Towards a More Equal Future? 109

5 Government 110

The Making of a Constitutional Settlement 110

Political Authority under the New Constitution 115

The National Executive 117

The National Legislature 122

The Judiciary 124

The National Sphere 126

Provincial Government 128

Local Government 130

Challenges and Controversies 134

6 Political Life 139

The Electoral System 139

The Electorate 140

Party Support and Political Parties 142

The African National Congress 143

Opposition Parties 147

Civil Society 150

One Party Dominance 155

Holding a Dominant Party to Account 158

Internal Pluralism 162

External and Economic Constraints 166

Conclusions 167

7 Culture, Ideas, and Issues 171

Professional Cultural Production 171

The Culture of Everyday Life: Urbanization and Suburbanization 175

Ideas 180

Issues 183

8 South Africa and the World 196

Modern South African International Relations 197

Foreign and Defence Policy from Mandela to Mbeki 202

Foreign Policy for the Twenty-first Century 206

The African Union, Nepad, and Zimbabwe 209

Mechanisms for Foreign Policy Making 211

9 South Africa in the Twenty-first Century 214

The Economy, Human Development, and Welfare 215

Reconciliation, Nation-building, and Democracy 216.

Notes:

Previous ed.: 2004.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780230217669

0230217664

0230217672

9780230217676

OCLC:

359673701