Contingent Citizens: Professional Aspiration in a South African Hospital (LSE Monographs on Social Anthropology)

"Title Description: Contingent Citizens examines the ambiguous state of South Africa's public sector workers and the implications for contemporary understandings of citizenship. It takes us inside an ethnography of the professional ethic of nurses in a rural hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, shaped by a deep history of mission medicine and changing forms of new public management. Liberal democratic principles of 'transparency', 'decentralization' and 'rights', though promising freedom from control, often generate fear and insecurity instead. But despite the pressures they face, Elizabeth Hull shows that nurses draw on a range of practices from international migration to new religious movements, to assert new forms of citizenship. Focusing an anthropological lens on 'professionalism', Hull explores the major fault lines of South Africa's fragmented social landscape - class, gender, race, and religion - to make an important contribution to the study of class formation and citizenship. This prize-winning monograph will be of interest to scholars of anthropology, development studies, sociology and global public health."--Bloomsbury Publishing More Than Twenty Years After The Fall Of Apartheid, South Africa Remains One Of The World's Most Unequal Societies. The Ostentatious Lifestyles Of The Elite Contrast Starkly With The Growing Unrest Of A Large 'wageless' Population. But What About The Educated Middle Tier Of Society? What Has Been Their Experience Of Democracy? Contingent Citizens Examines The Ambiguous State Of South Africa's Public Sector Workers And The Implications For Contemporary Understandings Of Citizenship. It Takes Us Inside An Ethnography Of The Professional Ethic Of Nurses In A Rural Hospital In Kwazulu-natal, Shaped By A Deep History Of Mission Medicine And Changing Forms Of New Public Management. Liberal Democratic Principles Of 'transparency', 'decentralization' And 'rights', Though Promising Freedom From Control, Often Generate Fear And Insecurity Instead. But Despite The Pressures They Face, Elizabeth Hull Shows That Nurses Draw On A Range Of Practices From International Migration To New Religious Movements, To Assert New Forms Of Citizenship. Focusing An Anthropological Lens On 'professionalism', Hull Explores The Major Fault Lines Of South Africa's Fragmented Social Landscape - Class, Gender, Race, And Religion - To Make An Important Contribution To The Study Of Class Formation And Citizenship. Elizabeth Hull. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 217-253) And Index. Dedication Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Geographies of Autonomy 2 The Limits of Professionalism 3 Autonomy and Control from Mission to State 4 Accountability, Hierarchy and Care 5 The Sickness of Democracy and Healing Religion 6 Aspiration Beyond Professionalism Conclusion Notes References Index