South Africa's Suspended Revolution

In this original and comprehensive analysis of political and economic evolution in the post-apartheid era, Adam Habib exposes the institutional constraints and the balance of forces at play in South Africa's political arena. Grappling with contemporary dilemmas, including the crisis of service delivery and accountability, shifts in economic policy, the role of civil society and the viability of a social pact, Habib explores the factors that influence political and policy outcomes: the power and leverage of political parties, the business sector, foreign investors, unions, civil society organisations, as well as global powers and institutions. He sheds light on how individuals and institutions can, with imagination, act against the grain of a given historical moment and transform the options available to society as a whole. South Africa's Suspended Revolution is an ideal introduction for anyone interested or actively involved in South Africa's political evolution and future prospects. It offers a critical analysis of all the national development plans and major policy platforms of the post-apartheid era, including the shifts that have occurred under the Zuma administration. A compelling chapter on the country's foreign policy provides fresh insights, while Habib's rigorous analysis of how the South African experience supports and challenges the global literature on democratisation will be of interest to academics and researchers worldwide.