Research |
Our research activities have been organised around four research clusters:
Changing livelihoods in South and Southern Africa,
Comparative labour movements,
Labour and socio-economic development in a globalising Southern Africa,
Restructuring of work. These clusters act as working networks, networks that go beyond the mere sharing of information to the active exchange of ideas and the planning of activities sometimes with other institutions - locally and globally – including joint workshops and joint research projects. Each cluster is led by a member of SWOP.
Changing livelihoods in South and Southern Africa
- Co-ordinator: Dr Sarah Mosoetsa
- Co-ordinator: Prof. Jacklyn Cock
This cluster explores the changing nature of livelihoods at both household and community level. Its focus is on particular livelihood responses to the crisis of unemployment, poverty and HIV/AIDS in South and Southern Africa. The first phase (2001-2004) of the project was funded by the Development Studies Institute (DESTIN) through the London School of Economics (LSE). The second phase (2005-2008) is funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa.
Research:
Comparative labour movements
- Co-ordinator: Prof. Sakhela Buhlungu
The research in this cluster takes a comparative approach to the study of labour movements in developing societies and examines the role played by these movements in political and economic transitions. In particular, the research cluster explores three related themes:
* The impact of transition on labour movements, specifically the recomposition of these movements and the reconstitution of their structures, organisational cultures, value systems and practices.
* The impact of economic liberalisation on workers and their movements and the responses of labour movements to such liberalisation.
* The “paradox of victory” which faces labour movements in developing societies. We seek to understand why, under globalisation, governments which rise to power following labour’s successful political mobilisation to achieve political democracy and economic justice tend to embrace and implement neo-liberal policies, which often negate labour’s political gains.
Research:
Book-Length Manuscript On Comparative Labour Studies, Professors Webster and Lambert and Dr Bezuidenhout -
Conference On Unions And Parties In Comparative Perspective -
Labour, Liberation And Development -
Ongoing Research on Mining -
The State, Unions And Social Movements, Dr Buhlungu, National Research Foundation, 2005-2008
Labour and socio-economic development in a globalising Southern Africa
- Co-ordinator: Dr Andries Bezuidenhout
SWOP has systematically been working towards extending its research focus to include comparative work on the Southern African region and other parts of the world. This cluster focuses on the impact of liberalisation on the processes of regional integration in South and Southern Africa, the responses of the labour movement, the state and industry to these processes of restructuring.
Research:
Restructuring of work
- Co-ordinator: Dr Karl von Holdt
- Co-ordinator: Ms Christine Bischoff
- Co-ordinator: Prof. Edward Webster
The projects in this cluster explore the changing nature of work and how ‘production regimes’ in South Africa are changing under the impact of political and economic changes that have unfolded since 1994. Since 2000, we have broadened the focus of our research to include Southern Africa and the Global South in order to respond to an increasingly interdependent world.