David Kaplan

Class struggle and the periodisation of the state in South Africa

This article represents an attempt to periodise the South African state through an analysis of political class struggle. The analysis draws heavily on the theoretical work of Nicos Poulzantzas. The changing patterns of conflict and alliance between the different classes and “fractions” in the “power bloc” are traced in an attempt to identify changes in the form of state and form of regime. The analysis, concentrating on three historical periods — the Pact period, the Fusion period and the period between 1940 and 1948 — thus provides a fundamental reinterpretation of South African history, and shows how the ground was cleared for the capture of state power in 1948 by those class forces represented by the Nationalist Party.

Trade and Industrial Policy on an Uneven Playing Field: The Case of the Deciduous Fruit Canning Industry in South Africa

The deciduous fruit canning industry (DFCI) is a resource and labor-intensive industry with a high trade ratio. It offers the prospect of being a significant source of employment and export earnings for a number of southern hemisphere countries which enjoy a considerable comparative advantage. Market distortions severely constrain this outcome, however, most importantly a combination of protection and subsidies in the industrially advanced countries. In addition, as in other sectors, globalization is increasingly associated with processes in which value-added activities are located in the major markets of the industrialized countries. This paper examines the DFCI in South Africa and explores the consequences of market distortions and the shifting location of profitable activities for both industrial and trade policy in that country.

Manufacturing in South Africa over the last decade: a review of industrial performance and policy

This article outlines South Africas comparative industrial performance over approximately the last two decades. It then examines the policies effected by the Department of Trade and Industry since 1994 to promote the development of industry. The focus is on the sector‐specific supports available to the auto and auto components and the clothing and textiles sectors. The final section locates these sector‐specific support measures within a broader discussion of industrial policy.This article outlines South Africas comparative industrial performance over approximately the last two decades. It then examines the policies effected by the Department of Trade and Industry since 1994 to promote the development of industry. The focus is on the sector-specific supports available to the auto and auto components and the clothing and textiles sectors. The final section locates these sector-specific support measures within a broader discussion of industrial policy.

An Assessment of the Investment Climate in South Africa

The objective of the South Africa Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) is to evaluate the investment climate in South Africa in all its operational dimensions and to promote policies to strengthen the private sector. The investment climate is made up of the many location-specific factors that shape opportunities and incentives for firms to invest productively, create jobs, and expand. These factors include macroeconomic and regulatory policies, the security of property rights and the rule of law, and the quality of supporting institutions such as physical and financial infrastructure. The main source of information for the ICA is a survey of over 800 formal private enterprises. The survey includes data on firm productivity, the cost of doing business, the regulatory environment, the labor market, the financial sector, the trade regime, and levels of investment. The analysis links business environment constraints to firm-level costs and productivity. Also, the investment climate and performance of firms in South Africa can be compared with those of firms in the more than 70 low- and middle income countries in which Investment Climate Surveys (ICSs) have been conducted.

Innovation and performance improvement in the South African wine industry

South Africas wine industry was ill-prepared for the highly competitive, brand-conscious consumer markets it encountered on re-entry into international markets. The bulk of production was basic quality wine. Wine marketing expertise was concentrated among smaller independent wine producers and a few large wholesalers. The paper examines innovation in different segments of the industry and the extent to which it is being effectively supported by networking and knowledge exchange. Most producers have significantly improved quality and product ranges. But many producers are weak in the area of marketing, though some segments have achieved considerable success in this area. Respected institutions to support marketing and brand development and knowledge exchange between producers contribute to ongoing improvement in this area.

The constraints and institutional challenges facing industrial policy in South Africa: a way forward

Industrial policy is a central plank of ASGISA. However, industrial policy in South Africa faces two key constraints – internally, a macroeconomic framework focused on inflation; and, externally, international agreements that limit the scope of industrial policy generally and of export support in particular. In addition, there are a number of institutional and governance concerns. Currently industrial policy lacks coherence with no clear locus of coordination in government; governmental capacities are very limited; distributional conflicts lead to multiple objectives with poorly specified trade-offs; a severe shortage of skills and simultaneously limited training restrain productivity increases; and, finally, strategic collaboration between government and business is largely absent. Two conclusions result. First, industrial policy should not, in the current context, be too ambitious. Second, given limited governmental capacities, a more prominent role should be accorded to the business sector. Institutional mechanisms need to be established so as to allow business to play the leading role in identifying the constraints and opportunities facing a sector and the policies designed to address these. Government then must support those policies that accord with its social and economic objectives. By way of example, the Western Cape Microeconomic Development Strategy (MEDS) is outlined. The central feature of the MEDS is the Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) – an effective institutional form that allows for such a strategic collaboration between government and business.

Reversing the Brain Drain: The Case for Utilising South Africa's Unique Intellectual Diaspora

In the first part of this paper a brief description of South Africas capacities in relation to science and technology is presented. A historical sketch is followed by a consideration of inputs and outputs and the human resource dimension. South Africas predominance particularly in terms of scientific and technological outputs among African countries is stressed. At the same time South Africa has notable deficiencies in terms of human resources for S&T. (excerpt)

The South African State: the Origins of a Racially Exclusive Democracy

The outstanding characteristic of the South African polity is the total exclusion of the large majority of the population from decision-making processes. This situation has led scholars-both liberal and Marxist-to either ignore any democratic aspects of the political system or else to discount it en toto as Fascist (Simson, 1973; Bunting, 1964). Yet in South Africa, since Union in 1910,1 governments of the day have been exclusively decided via the ballot box. The whole apparatus of bourgeois democracy-political parties,

Measuring our competitiveness - a critical examination of the IMD and WEF competitiveness indicators for South Africa

This article examines the competitiveness indicators that are produced by the highly influential World Economic Forum (WEF) and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), specifically in respect of South Africa. Neither provides a clear and persuasive guide as to South Africas overall competitiveness ranking, nor how this has altered over time. The problem resides principally in the assessment of technological capacities and the contribution that technology makes to overall competitiveness. The IMD and the WEF approaches to technology diverge significantly, but both are inadequate. As a consequence, there is a substantial discrepancy between the two as regards South Africas current overall competitive ness ranking. Neither individually, nor collectively, are these competitiveness indicators - as they are currently constituted - useful as a guide to policy.

State policy and technological change — the development of the South African telecommunications industry

This article begins by outlining the establishment, in 1958, of the telecommunications industry in South Africa. The role of the state, and particularly the military, is highlighted. The factors that allowed the industry to develop rapidly over the next two decades are explored. However, at the end of 1977, following major technological changes occurring within the international telecommunications industry, the South African Post Office decided in favour of digital telecommunications equipment. This had a number of adverse effects upon the local industry. The considerations underlying the decision in favour of digital technology and the subsequent choices that were made as to who precisely should manufacture digital telecommunications equipment locally and from where the technical know‐how required for local production should be obtained, are detailed. The focus here is on exchanges which are the heart of any telecommunications system and technically the most complex item. Finally, by way of conclusion, t...