Trade Unions and Democratization in South Africa, 1985-1997

Labour has been a neglected actor in the literature on democratization. In South Africa it has played a central role in shaping the transition to democracy, though it remains an open question whether labour can sustain this involvement during the period of consolidation. As elsewhere, economic liberalization can lead to stagnation and can impose high costs on working people, while weakening the state. The writings in this volume see labour as a collective actor capable of shaping democratization through the strategic use of power. The book examines labour's capacity to exert such influence in the future. The findings suggest that labour's marginalization could put at risk the consolidation of democracy. More information from the publishers.