Davies, Rebecca. "Afrikaner Capital Elites, Neo-Liberalism and Economic Transformation in Post-Apartheid South Africa". African Studies. Volume 71. Issue, 3. Page,      391-407. November 23, 2012

Following the transition, Afrikaner capital elites, particularly in mining and finance, have maintained prominence in South Africa's liberal democratic landscape. However, their contribution to the post-apartheid economy remains incompletely understood. Despite reforming their local presence and reconstructing economic power, these actions are intricately linked to global and African National Congress (ANC)-led neoliberal projects. This does not necessarily signify a persistent or renewed Afrikaner capital bloc. This article delves into the dynamics of state-capital relations among Afrikaans speakers, considering the institutional and material legacy of apartheid and contemporary global restructuring. It underscores the importance of this context in explaining the evolving role and influence of Afrikaner capital elites in the post-apartheid and global economies.

tandfonline.com

De Kadt, Daniel, and Horacio A. Larreguy. "Agents of the regime? Traditional leaders and electoral politics in South Africa." The Journal of Politics 80, no. 2 (2018):382-399.

Traditional leaders perform cultural, legal, economic and social roles. Some scholars argue that chiefs use their authority to provide votes to the highest bidder. Thus, chiefs indirectly influence electoral behavior of their dependents. Other scholars argue that chiefs have the incentive to support any politician who would guarantee their survival and bring resources to their local communities. DeKadt and Larreguy argue that chiefs are generally strategic actors who would align themselves with political parties that will best serve their interests only when they (chiefs) feel the politicians are electorally credible. Chiefs would rather trade off votes of their dependents with incumbent elites who have better access to resources than opposition parties who do not. They do this to ensure developmental outcomes for their dependents because their legal legitimacy and economic security has been weakened due to modern democracy. DeKadt and Larreguy further argue that as South Africa switched from apartheid to democratic regime, so did chiefs switch from being agents of apartheid to agents of the ANC government. The authors term this relationship between the traditional authority and political elites as ‘political quid pro quo’’.

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Dei,George J. Sefa, 2002. “Learning Culture, Spirituality and Local Knowledge: Implications for African Schooling.” International Review of Education. Vol. 48, No. 5 (Sep., 2002), pp. 335-360.

Using a Ghanaian case study, this paper looks at the relevance and implications of local knowledge, culture and spirituality for understanding and implementing educational change in Africa. It examines how teachers, educators, and students use local cultural knowledge about self, personhood and community. Among the critical issues raised are: How do subjects understand the nature, impact and implications of spirituality for schooling and education? What is the role of spirituality, culture, language and social politics in knowledge production? What contribution does the local cultural knowledge base make to the search for genuine educational options in Africa?

[Source: article abstract].

Sylvain Eloi Dessy

Professor, Department of Economics, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada

Email: sylvain.dessy@ecn.ulaval.ca

Judd Devermont

Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Africa Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies, US

Contact: x.com/jdevermont

DiCaprio, Alisa., James A. Robinson, and Alice H. (Alice Hoffenberg) Amsden. The Role of Elites in Economic Development. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.

Elites have a disproportionate impact on development outcomes. While a country's endowments constitute the deep determinates of growth, the trajectory they follow is shaped by the actions of elites. But what factors affect whether elites use their influence for individual gain or national welfare? To what extent do they see poverty as a problem? And are their actions today constrained by institutions and norms established in the past? This volume looks at case studies from South Africa to China to seek a better understanding of the dynamics behind how elites decide to engage with economic development. Approaches include economic modelling, social surveys, theoretical analysis, and program evaluation. These different methods explore the relationship between elites and development outcomes from five angles: the participation and reaction of elites to institutional creation and change, how economic changes affect elite formation and circulation, elite perceptions of national welfare, the extent to which state capacity is part of elite self-identity, and how elites interact with non-elites.

Source: Book description by publisher

Diakonoff, Serge. L’âme de l’Afrique: masques et sculptures [Africa’s Soul: Masks and Sculptures].Paris: les Éditions de l’Amateur, 2008.

This book sheds light on the incredible paradox that characterizes African art as it is both diverse and consistent. It shows, through the study of statuettes and masks, what is specific to the African intellectual nature and its contribution to mankind’s cultural and intellectual history.

[Source: Decitre.fr].

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Diamond Platnumz

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Tanzania

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