Suchergebnisse

Abrupt social protests in South Africa, which erupted after the decision to jail the former president, Jacob Zuma, have stirred discussions on the ongoing state crisis and corruption of South African political elites. Meanwhile, these problems have deeper roots. The article argues that one of the main reasons of social unrest is a failure of a democratic state in enhancing social and economic opportunities of black South Africans and addressing the resultant increasing income and wealth inequalities. The article examines the context of the state's erosion after it was monopolized by the African National Congress (ANC). Our arguments include the model of neopatrimonial state, related to the legacy of political transformation, but also to the departure of the ANC elites from its revolutionary ideals in favour of party loyalty. Another issue discussed in the article is a phenomenon called 'state capture'.