A History of Inequality in South Africa, 1652-2002In this major work - which took eight years to complete - Professor Sampie Terreblanche, a well-known Afrikaner academic of the University of Stellenbosch, provides an analysis of economic relations in South Africa. First, the book analyzes the work of numerous historians on inequality and exploitation in South Africa around a single theme: the systematic and progressive economic exploitation of indigenous people by settler groups. This synthesis is presented in a highly original, striking, and accessible way. Second, Terreblanche argues that, despite South Africa's successful transition to democracy, its society is as unequal today, if not more so, than ever before. In a final chapter, he argues that the current system of "neo-liberal democratic capitalism" is inappropriate to a developing country such as South Africa. He calls for a policy shift towards social democracy in which the state should play a more active role in alleviating poverty, redistributing wealth, and attending to social welfare. |
Contents
Endnotes | 21 |
Prelude to the informal negotiations on economic issues | 51 |
The hegemony of the African political establishment | 95 |
Copyright | |
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20th century accumulation strategy African labour African population agricultural Bantustans became black elite black labour Britain Bundy Cape Town capitalist enclave coloureds corporate sector COSATU countries created crisis declined democracy democratic capitalism discriminatory Eastern Cape economic policy employment exploitation farming favour free market freeburghers frontier global gold mining government's households ideological implemented important impoverished income increased inequalities influx control institutionalised Khoikhoi Khoisan labour force labour market labour patterns labour repression land landowners large numbers liberal mainly measures migrant labour million mining industry movement Natal negotiations neo-liberal NP government onwards opportunities organisations period poor poorest population groups poverty problems programme proletarianisation proletariat racial capitalism redistribution restructuring role segregation segregationist settlers slavery slaves society socio-economic South Africa South African economy stagflation structural struggle trade unions Transvaal Trekboere unfree labour urban areas urbanisation Voortrekkers wages welfare white political white supremacy Xhosa