Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This case study examines the implications of globalisation for business-government
relations in South Africa since 1990. The study proposes that business, bolstered by
globalisation, is increasingly gaining influence in the policy process of South Africa.
The unfolding era of neo-liberalism has ushered in an enormous surge in the power of
capital and a decline in the organization and influence of labour. This surge in relative
power has allowed the South African business community, to impose its own
discipline on government and to narrow the sphere of public decisions. Fear ofloss of
competitiveness, in attracting capital, both domestic and international, has forced
government to make their policies increasingly capital-friendly rather than responding
to popular will or broad social interest.
The study establishes the features of globalisation and South Africa's position within
this process through an analysis of the relationship between the ANC and business
that developed in South Africa between 1990 and 1994, and later facilitated the
ANC's acceptance of a neo-liberal macroeconomic strategy in 1996. By analysing;
firstly, the influence of business within the policy-making process since 1996, and
secondly, the influence of business in the outcomes of government's black economic
empowerment strategy, the study shows that business has attempted to optimise its
position vis-a-vis the currents of globalisation.
The study concludes that the working partnership between business and government,
established in terms of the BEE strategy is based on the mutual need of each other, as
both government and business face the brutal capriciousness of foreign investment,
the major challenge posed by globalisation. The South African business community is
however in a unique position with respect to South Africa's ongoing transformation.
Within the post-apartheid context, and South Africa's reconfigured power equation
between government and business, globalisation would appear to give corporate
South Africa added leverage over its rival social partners in the tug-of-war over the
terms of development. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie gevalle-studie bestudeer die implikasies van globalisasie vir besigheidregering
verhoudings in Suid-Afrika vanaf 1990. Die studie stel voor dat besigheid,
aangehelp deur globalisasie, toenemend invloed verkry in die beleidsproses in Suid-
Afrika. Die nuwe era van neo-liberalisme het 'n groot toevloei in die mag van kapitaal
binne gesien en 'n afname in die organisasie en invloed van arbeid. Die beweging van
relatiewe mag het die Suid-Afrikaanse besigheids-gemeenskap toegelaat om sy eie
dissipline op die regering op te lê, en om die sfeer van openbare besluite te vernou.
Die vrees van verlies van mededinging in die aantrekking van kapitaal, beide plaaslik
en internasionaal, het die regering gedwing om hul beleide toenemend kapitaalvriendelik
te maak, eerder as om te reageer op populêre wilskrag of breë sosiale
belang.
Die studie bevestig die kenmerke van globalisasie sowel as Suid-Afrika se posisie in
hierdie proses. Dit word bepaal deur 'n analise van die verhouding tussen die ANC en
ondernemings wat tussen 1990 en 1994 in Suid-Afrika ontwikkel het en later deur die
ANC se aanvaarding van 'n neo-liberale makro-ekonomies strategie in 1996,
gefasiliteer is. Deur eerste die invloed van besigheid binne die beleidmakings-proses
vanaf 1996 te analiseer en tweedens te kyk na die invloed van besigheid in die
uitkoms van die regering se swart ekonomiese bemagtings strategie (BEE) wys die
studie dat besigheid probeer het om sy posisie deur die vloei van globalisasie te
optimiseer. Die studie sluit af met die erkende vennootskap tussen besighede en die
regering. Hierdie vernootskap is gevestig op die terme van die BEE strategie, wat
gebasseer is op wedersydse belang, want beide die regering en besighede staar die
brutale wispelturigheid van buitelandse belegging in die gesig. Hierdie groot
uitdaging word deur globalisasie voortgebring. Die Suid-Afrikaanse besigheidsgemeentskap
is in 'n unieke posisie, in die sin van Suid-Afrika se voortgaande
transformasie. Binne die post-apartheid konteks en Suid-Afrika se hergestruktueerde
mags verhouding tussen die regering en besighede, wil dit voorkom asof globalisasie
die besigheids-sfeer van Suid-Afrika 'n toename van mag oor sy mededingende
sosiale vennote te gee, in die konflik oor die terme van ontwikkeling.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53443 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Willson, Marion |
| Contributors | Leysens, A., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 87 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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