South Africa
Reports on South Africa See all →
Rifts deepen in South Africa
South Africa’s summer of turmoil has left the government with stiff challenges to address. Not only will President Ramaphosa need to deal with the considerable economic damage caused by the riots, he will also need to face the complex socioeconomic fault lines that have slowly destabilized South African society over the last decade.
Post-pandemic politics in Southern Africa
States in Southern Africa are still grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, and governments in the region are adopting emergency laws that could have a long-lasting impact on democratic processes in the region. Even when the health crisis eases, there is no guarantee that national leaders will redistribute powers to lower ...
Instability in sub-Saharan Africa: The ‘tribal’ factor
A spate of violence against foreigners in South Africa last month highlighted Africa’s struggle to overcome ethnic divisions. In many countries, tribal and religious loyalties supersede national ones, making it difficult to create a united national polity. States that have been forced to unite in conflict have done better in ...
Dim prospects for developing countries
Developing countries are facing some favorable global conditions, with cheap financing, rising commodity prices, and foreign investors looking for opportunity. But three roadblocks will prevent improved growth in Africa and other developing economies: government involvement in the market, an outsize bureaucracy, and an undereducated labor force. The solutions now being ...
South Africa lurches toward uncompensated land seizures
The politically explosive land question has been revived in South Africa at an awkward moment. A motion by the Marxist-Leninist opposition to allow farmland to be expropriated without compensation hit the ruling African National Congress (ANC) as it was beset by corruption scandals, a slumping economy, and widespread voter disillusionment ...
