The State, Unions And Social Movements, Dr Buhlungu, National Research Foundation, 2005-2008

Labour movements in Southern Africa have a long tradition of political engagement, beginning in the pre-independence period and continuing all the way into the present. This engagement is driven by labour's enduring interest in issues of liberation and development. This research will seek to explore the proposition that union engagement with political processes, parties and movements is not irrational or misguided. Rather, such engagement is often part of a broader strategy to achieve liberation and achieve a developmental path favourable to the needs of unions and their members.