Cindy Steenekamp

The emergent middle class in contemporary South Africa: Examining and comparing rival approaches

In light of the economic, political and social significance of the middle class for South Africas emerging democracy, we critically examine contrasting conceptualisations of social class. We compare four rival approaches to empirical estimation of class: an occupational skill measure, a vulnerability indictor, an income polarisation approach and subjective social status. There is considerable variation in who is classified as middle class based on the definition that is employed and, in particular, a marked difference between subjective and objective notions of social class. We caution against overoptimistic predictions based on the growth of the black middle class. While the surge in the black middle class is expected to help dismantle the association between race and class in South Africa, the analysis suggests that notions of identity may adjust more slowly to these new realities and consequently racial integration and social cohesion may emerge with a substantial lag.

The Middle Class in Contemporary South Africa: Comparing Rival Approaches

In the light of the economic, political and social significance of the middle class for South Africa’s emerging democracy, we critically examine contrasting conceptualisa-tions of social class. We compare four rival approaches to empirical estimation of class: an occupational skill measure, a vulnerability indictor, an income polarisation approach and subjective social status. There is considerable variation in who is classified as middle class based on the definition that is employed and, in particular, a marked difference between subjective and objective notions of social class. We caution against overoptimistic predictions based on the growth of the black middle class. While the surge in the black middle class is expected to help dismantle the association between race and class in South Africa, the analysis suggests that notions of identity may adjust more slowly to these new realities and consequently, racial integration and social cohesion may emerge with a substantial lag.

The changing political culture of the African National Congress

The early elite of the African National Congress (ANC) embraced values of moral improvement, individual responsibility and a sense of social consciousness. The ANC now governs South Africa, but with what appears to be a different set of principles. The current scourge of corruption, increasing state control, coupled with a general lack of service delivery point to behaviour of the ruling party which is inward-looking, self-seeking and self-preserving. Arguing that political culture and its accompanying values and attitudes is a prime motivator of behaviour, the paper seeks to understand the changing political culture of the dominant party. To understand the political culture of the ANC we use interviews with ANC parliamentarians and ANC supporters conducted in 2006–2007 and 2013 as well as an analysis of the ANCs Strategy and Tactics policy documents. We contend that the liberal values of the early elites were never fully embedded, but in their stead is a liberationist culture, where the state is normatively understood to be extensive and embodying the will of the people. We argue, that through the resulting centralized determination of the interests of the people, patronage networks, and diminishing of accountability, a system conducive to corruption and the pursuit of personal interest is created.

Political Radicalism: Responding to the Legitimacy Gap in South Africa

Radicalism is not a new dynamic for South Africa. The 1940s held the potential for political and social reform in South Africa with the promise of a more inclusive approach towards the black majority in the country.

Active Citizenship: A Comparative Study of Selected Young and Established Democracies

ABSTRACT The period of democratisation known as the Third Wave resulted in widespread democratisation in diverse parts of the world. In this study we use data from the World Values Survey to measure five dimensions of active citizenship (considered important for democracy) in four countries of the Third Wave: Chile, Poland, South Africa and South Korea. We compare the Third Wave countries with two consolidated democracies (Germany and Sweden) as well as one unique case study (Turkey). We find that the oldest democracies tend to record high levels of participation as well as high levels of trust and tolerance. The newer democracies often have moderate to high scores as well, but still face various obstacles. Turkey faces the most challenges to active citizenship and democratic consolidation as it most often recorded low levels of participation and low levels of trust and tolerance.

Graduate School formats and functions

CITATION: Groenewald, J. & Steenkamp, C. 2016. Graduate School Formats and Functions: A Case Study, in M. Fourie-Malherbe, R. Albertyn, C. Aitchison & E. Bitzer. (eds.). Postgraduate Supervision: Future Foci for the Knowledge Society. Stellenbosch: SUN PRESS. 99-121. doi:10.18820/9781928357223/06.