THE PURCHASED REVOLUTION IN SOUTH AFRICA: LESSONS FOR DEMOCRATIC TRANSFORMATION

In: Nationalism and ethnic politics, Band 3, Heft 4, S. 113-127

Abstract

THE RELATIVELY PEACEFUL CHANGEOVER OF POLITICAL POWER IN SOUTH AFRICA HAS BEEN GREATLY FACILITATED BY THE VAST RESOURCES OF THE STATE AND A PRIVATE-SECTOR-LED ECONOMY. THE EMBOURGEOISEMENT OF NEW POWERHOLDERS IS CRITICALLY ANALYZED AND THE LIKELY ALIENATION OF AN IMPOVERISHED CONSTITUENCY ASSESSED. THIS ARTICLE NOTES THAT THE SEMI-DEVELOPED SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY MUST ADHERE TO A GLOBAL NEO-LIBERAL CONSENSUS IF IT WISHES TO REALIZE AMBITIOUS GROWTH RATES.