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Politeia

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ISSN (Print) 0256-8845
Published by Sabinet Online Ltd

[223 journals]

Politics of Climate Justice: Paralysis Above, Movement Below, Patrick Bond : book review
- Abstract: Author: Moagi, Anna Lefatshe Vol 31 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 112-113 Abstract: At the onset, it should be stated that this book should be read as a critique of the neo-liberal bias of the climate change debate in South Africa. The author clearly observes the connotations behind the methods and approaches that were used by the South African government since the presidency of Thabo Mbeki to tackle the issue of climate change. One angle that the author started from is the electricity crisis that the Mbeki presidency failed to pre-empt and thereafter properly address, and which subsequently left the country experiencing rolling blackouts and loadshedding.
  PubDate: 2013-01-31T14:32:25Z
Monitoring and Evaluation of Policies, Programmes and Projects, I.U. Ile, C. Eresia-Eke & C. Allen-Ile : book review
- Abstract: Author: Luvuno, Londoloza L. Vol 31 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 109-111 Abstract: From the onset, this book is a pragmatic guidance tool or instructional material for monitoring and evaluating work performance of officials, with particular reference to public officials. Many authors have written mediocre books meant for comprehensive thinkers, ignoring ordinary readers who are practitioners in the field of monitoring and evaluation. The intention of these authors is to present their wide range of experiences and theories of monitoring and evaluation in an appropriate public service environment.
  PubDate: 2013-01-31T14:32:25Z
Non-racialism, nation-building and democratic consolidation in South Africa
- Abstract: Author: Kotze, Joleen Steyn Vol 31 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 89-108 Abstract: A central tenet to successful democratic consolidation is the engineering of a national identity for social cohesion. In the case of South Africa, the doctrine of non-racialism underpinned by being African can serve as ideological 'glue' to create a sense of South African nationhood in a post-apartheid context. However, seventeen years into South Africa's democratic experiment, the country is still plagued by apartheid-constructed identities and divisions rooted in both sociopolitical and socio-economic life. Indeed, much political rhetoric emerging from civic and political organisation has re-racialised South African society, rendering a commitment to non-racialism somewhat ineffective. In this context, this paper has two central objectives. Firstly, it traces the centrality of engineering citizenship as central to long-term democratic durability and sustainability in emerging democracies. In this sense, democratic consolidation is dependent upon the successful creation of citizenship, and more specifically, South African citizenship. Secondly, the paper assesses non-racialism as an ideological driver to nation formation and building in South Africa. Essentially, it is argued that deracialising South African society is dependent upon a normative commitment of the citizenry and political elites to the principles of non-racialism in a pluralist polity characterised by diversity and multiculturalism.
  PubDate: 2013-01-31T14:32:25Z
Local economic development : a critique of the African experience
- Abstract: Author: Reddy, Purshottama Wallis, Malcolm Vol 31 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 70-88 Abstract: About 30-40 years ago, Local Economic Development (LED) was conceptualised in developing countries and is still gaining momentum in these countries. It has been practised as a development strategy in various forms, more particularly in developed countries. In the African context, LED has been incorporated with local or community development, and these poverty alleviation strategies have focused on social goals over the short term, rather than economic goals that are more broad-based and longer term. Particular emphasis has been placed on survival strategies and remedial measures to address social problems, as opposed to sustainable development over the longer term. Globally, LED strategies seek to enhance economic growth. In the African context, the approach adopted includes the former, but prioritises poverty alleviation and greater inclusion of previously excluded groups. African countries that develop a positive linkage between growth and poverty alleviation are the exception rather than the rule. Only countries that are reasonably well developed, diversified, globally linked and have an urbanised economy would fall into this category; South Africa has managed to bridge this divide and is a rare exception. The African Continent as a whole is experiencing distinct challenges in implementing LED, namely a lack of human resources, and limited financial, institutional and technical capacity. Furthermore, the development environment is not very enabling and this has also proved to be a stumbling block in facilitating LED in many countries.
  PubDate: 2013-01-31T14:32:25Z
Expenditure volatility and provincial government reform in South Africa
- Abstract: Author: Naidoo, Vinothan Vol 31 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 49-69 Abstract: South Africa's provincial governments were the subject of vigorous debate during 2007. This culminated in an official policy review, that included potentially far-reaching questions about their status, role and future existence. The review was initiated during a period marked by serious concerns about the capacity of provincial governments to implement programmes and services through budgeted expenditure. It focused on the ability of provinces to spend allocated revenues on activities adequately with a direct bearing on social and economic development. This debate was revisited by this research in focusing specifically on the question of provincial under-spending. The purpose was to investigate provincial expenditure preceding the 2007 policy review, with the objective to empirically observe the general shape, extent and pattern of provincial incapacity to spend revenues. Based on this, the idea was to consider how expenditure performance might rationally influence subsequent and continuing policy debate pertaining to the future configuration of provincial government. The research presents an analysis of provincial expenditure for a four-year time-frame (2002-2006), indicating that under-spending seems to be secondary to the more significant problem of spending volatility, or rapid shifts between under- and over-spending. The complexity of expenditure performance suggests that past and continuing debate about the wholesale or even partial restructuring of the provincial system of government needs to be moderated by a more incremental and escalatory series of responses.
  PubDate: 2013-01-31T14:32:25Z
A comparative assessment of the entrepreneurial performance of independent entities (agencies) and core departments of a selected local government institution in South Africa
- Abstract: Author: Labuschagne, H. Van Vuuren, J. Vol 31 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 28-48 Abstract: Research was conducted at a selected metropolitan local government organisation in South Africa to determine whether the establishment of independent municipal entities (agencies) to deliver services had a positive effect on the entrepreneurial performance of such entities in relation to traditional departments that had been maintained. The findings indicated that municipal entities (agencies) of the local government organisation portrayed fewer bureaucratic resource management practices (key business dimensions) than core departments, with reference to the prominence of official structures, policies, procedures and standard practices (hard issues). These variances could, however, not be correlated significantly with similar variances in the overall performance or entrepreneurial intensity of the relevant organisational units. The results indicated that the establishment of independent municipal agencies did not have a significant positive effect on the entrepreneurial and overall performance. This unexpected and surprising result seemed to confirm that the adjustment of structures, operating practices and corporatisation alone were insufficient to improve entrepreneurial and overall performance, and that the primary distinguishing factor might in effect be related to entrepreneurial behaviour, competencies and managerial staff's skills.
  PubDate: 2013-01-31T14:32:25Z
Illegal oil bunkering : Nigerian context and transnational ramifications for the Gulf of Guinea
- Abstract: Author: Onuoha, Freedom C. Vol 31 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 5-27 Abstract: The Gulf of Guinea (GG) is emerging as a region of significant geo-strategic importance to states in and outside Africa because of its affluence and afflictions. The stability of the region is threatened by transnational organised crimes perpetrated within, transiting through, or destined for the region. Of the transnational crimes that pervade the region, oil smuggling in Nigeria, popularly known as illegal oil bunkering, has received only marginal attention. This research investigates the dynamics of illegal oil bunkering in Nigeria's Niger Delta region and its ramifications for the GG. It interrogates the three major levels of oil theft that feed into the broader transnational illegal oil bunkering dynamics in the region. It is argued that illegal oil bunkering not only undermines security and governance in Nigeria, but also feeds into the wave of maritime afflictions that threaten regional stability and development in the GG. Its transnational nature - origin, transit route, and destination - presupposes that efforts to combat the illicit transaction must as a matter of necessity cover the three spectrums to be very effective.
  PubDate: 2013-01-31T14:32:25Z
Editorial
- Abstract: Author: Naidoo, Goonasagree Vol 31 Issue 2 Publication: 2012 Page: 1-4 Abstract: With a coastline of nearly 3 500km, from West Africa to Angola, the bulk of Africa's oil production emanates from the Gulf of Guinea, primarily in Nigeria and Angola. But illegal oil 'bunkering' (transporting stolen oil) is a transnational organised crime and a lucrative 'business' in the creeks of the Niger Delta, where oil pipelines criss-cross the region. Vandalised pipelines, illegal bunkering and oil refining are also hazardous: explosions lead directly to deaths, fracturing families, indirectly poisoning the ecosystem, generating oil spills, killing flora and fauna that supports fishing, agriculture and other legitimate subsistence livelihoods.
  PubDate: 2013-01-31T14:32:25Z