From Revolution to Rights in South Africa : Social Movements, NGOs and Popular Politics After Apartheid

Critics of liberalism in Europe and North America argue that a stress on 'rights talk' and identity politics has led to fragmentation, individualisation and depoliticisation. But are these developments really signs of 'the end of politics'? In the post-colonial, post-apartheid, neo-liberal new South Africa poor and marginalised citizens continue to struggle for land, housing and health care. They must respond to uncertainty and radical contingencies on a daily basis. This requires multiple strategies, an engaged, practised citizenship, one that links the daily struggle to well organised mobilisation around claiming rights. Robins argues for the continued importance of NGOs, social movements and other 'civil society' actors in creating new forms of citizenship and democracy. He goes beyond the sanitised prescriptions of 'good governance' so often touted by development agencies. Instead he argues for a complex, hybrid and ambiguous relationship between civil society and the state, where new negotiations around citizenship emerge. Steven L. Robins is Professor of Social Anthropology in the University of Stellenbosch and editor of Limits to Liberation after Apartheid (James Currey). Southern Africa: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press (PB) The author argues for the continued importance of NGOs, social movements and other'civil society'actors in creating new forms of citizenship and democracy in South Africa.Critics of liberalism in Europe and North America argue that a stress on'rights talk'and identity politics has led to fragmentation, individualisation and depoliticisation. But are these developments really signs of'the end ofpolitics'? In the post-colonial, post-apartheid, neo-liberal new South Africa poor and marginalised citizens continue to struggle for land, housing and health care. They must respond to uncertainty and radical contingencies on a daily basis. This requires multiple strategies, an engaged, practised citizenship, one that links the daily struggle to well organised mobilisation around claiming rights. Robins argues for the continued importance of NGOs, socialmovements and other'civil society'actors in creating new forms of citizenship and democracy. He goes beyond the sanitised prescriptions of'good governance'so often touted by development agencies. Instead he argues for a complex, hybrid and ambiguous relationship between civil society and the state, where new negotiations around citizenship emerge. Steven L. Robins is Professor of Social Anthropology in the University of Stellenbosch and editorof Limits to Liberation after Apartheid (James Currey). COVER ......Page 1 CONTENTS ......Page 6 FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......Page 8 ABBREVIATIONS ......Page 12 ZAPIRO CARTOONS......Page 15 1 Introduction: From Revolution to Rights......Page 18 2 Activist Mediations of ‘Rights’ & Indigenous Identity: Land Struggles, NGOs & Indigenous Rights in Namaqualand......Page 46 3 Citizens & ‘Bushmen’: The ≠khomani San, NGOs & the Making of a New Social Movement......Page 68 4 ‘Civil Society’ & Popular Politics in the Postcolony ‘Deep Democracy’ & Deep Authoritarianism at the Tip of Africa?......Page 94 5 AIDS, Science & the Making of a Social Movement AIDS Activism & Biomedical Citizenship in South Africa......Page 117 6 Rights Passages from ‘Near Death’ to ‘New Life’ AIDS Activism & New HIV-identities in South Africa......Page 144 7 Sexual Rights & Sexual Cultures: AIDS Activism, Sexual Politics & ‘New Masculinities’ after Apartheid ......Page 161 8 Conclusion: Beyond Rights & the Limits of Liberalism......Page 182 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 192 INDEX ......Page 203 COVER 1 CONTENTS 6 FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 8 ABBREVIATIONS 12 ZAPIRO CARTOONS 15 1 Introduction: From Revolution to Rights 18 2 Activist Mediations of ‘Rights’ & Indigenous Identity: Land Struggles, NGOs & Indigenous Rights in Namaqualand 46 3 Citizens & ‘Bushmen’: The ≠khomani San, NGOs & the Making of a New Social Movement 68 4 ‘Civil Society’ & Popular Politics in the Postcolony ‘Deep Democracy’ & Deep Authoritarianism at the Tip of Africa? 94 5 AIDS, Science & the Making of a Social Movement AIDS Activism & Biomedical Citizenship in South Africa 117 6 Rights Passages from ‘Near Death’ to ‘New Life’ AIDS Activism & New HIV-identities in South Africa 144 7 Sexual Rights & Sexual Cultures: AIDS Activism, Sexual Politics & ‘New Masculinities’ after Apartheid 161 8 Conclusion: Beyond Rights & the Limits of Liberalism 182 BIBLIOGRAPHY 192 INDEX 203 1847012019,9781847012012,1847012027,9781847012029,9781869141646 James Currey Introduction: From Revolution To Rights -- Activist Mediations Of 'rights & Indigeneous Identity: Land Struggles, Ngos & Indigeneous Rights In Namaqualand -- Citizens & 'bushmen' : The Khomani San, Ngos, & The Making Of A New Social Movement -- 'civil Society' & Popular Politics In The Postcolony: 'deep Democracy' & Deep Authoritarianism At The Tip Of Africa? -- Aids, Science & The Making Of A Social Movement : Aids Activism & Biomedical Citizenship In South Africa -- Rights Passages From 'near Death' To 'new Life': Aids Activism & New Hiv Identities In South Africa -- Sexual Rights & Sexual Cultures: Aids Activism, Sexual Politics & 'new Masculinities' After Apartheid -- Conclusion: Beyond Rights & The Limits Of Liberalism. Steven L. Robins. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 175-185) And Index. "Critics of liberalism in Europe and North America argue that a stress on 'rights talk' and identity politics has led to fragmentation, individualisation and depoliticisation. But are these developments really signs of 'the end of politics'?" "Steven L. Robins argues for the continued importance of NGOs, social movements and other 'civil society' actors in creating new forms of citizenship and democracy, producing a complex, hybrid and ambiguous relationship between civil society and the state, where new negotiations around citizenship emerge."--Jacket Critics of liberalism in Europe and North America argue that a stress on 'right talk' and identify politics has led to fragmentation, individualisation and depoliticisation. But are these developments really signs of 'the end of politics'?