New South African Review 2 - New Paths, Old Compromises D Pillay, Daniel, P Naidoo, R Southall (NEW)

New South African Review 2 - New Paths, OldCompromises (Paperback)

Devan Pillay, John Daniel, Prishani Naidoo, Roger Southall

The second volume of the New South African Review (NSAR)continues a tradition of debate and critical, analytical scholarship aboutcontemporary South Africa. Drawing on authors from academia and beyond, it aimsto be informative, discursive and provocative.

In this volume, the New Growth Path (NGP) adopted by theSouth African government in 2010 provides the basis for a debate about whetherdecent work is the best possible solution to South Africas problems of loweconomic growth and high unemployment. Rising inequality is explored againstthe backdrop of the failings of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) andBroad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE). The NGPs proposals forgreening the economy are discussed, with emphasis on the creation of greenjobs and biofuels.

The volume also includes investigations into the crisis ofacid mine drainage on the Witwatersrand, and other persistent environmentalchallenges. Possibilities for participatory forms of government are surveyed,and civil society activism is explored in relation to the South AfricanBroadcasting Corporation (SABC) and environmental campaigns.

The crisis in child care in public hospitals, the difficultiesthat characterise attempts at building relationships between the police and atownship community, and the problems related to the absence of legislation togovern the powers of traditional authorities over land allocation (through theexperience of the Eastern Cape) are also featured.

Asking whether the NGP reflects a set of new policies or anattempt to re-dress old (com)promises in new clothes, this volume bringstogether different voices in debate about possibilities for alternatives toneo-liberal and capitalist development in South Africa.