Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The goal of this thesis was to evaluate the success of neo-liberalism in South Africa, with
specific reference to the capacity of the policy to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality.
The dispute about the aptness of nee-liberalism in South Africa also relates to the broader
debate concerning the success of neo-liberalism in creating economic growth to the
benefit of all members of society. A qualitative analysis of the research and diverging
opinions with regards to neo-liberalism was used to derive an objective framework for
the evaluation of economic policy. This framework was then used as the basis of an
evaluation of the success of neo-liberalism in South Africa.
It was found that neo-liberalism is generally successful in the generation of economic
growth with the capacity to address poverty, and that the implementation of neo-liberal
policies does not necessarily lead to an increase in inequality. It was, however, also
proven that there are specific cases in which neo-liberalism is not successful. It was
therefore argued that the continuation of neo-liberal policies in South Africa cannot be
justified on the grounds of the success of the policy in the global context. Seeing as the
success of the policy seems to be context specific, it was argued that evaluations of the
policy should have the same context specific basis.
Since South Africa's political transition ID 1994, neo-liberalism has gradually been
established as the foundation of economic policy. The success of neo-liberalism in South
Africa was therefore evaluated through an analysis of the changes in the levels of poverty
and inequality in the country since this transition. It was found that very little progress
has been made in the reduction of inequality, that poverty has increased and that South
Africa's Human Development Index (as an indication of the success of development
policy) has decreased since 1994.
It was therefore concluded that neo-liberalism in South-Africa is not successful, and that
it is thus necessary to identify an alternative framework for the eradication of poverty and
reduction of inequality in the country. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie tesis was om die sukses van neo-liberalisme in die verligting van
armoede en vermindering van ongelykheid in Suid-Afrika te bepaal. Die debat oor die
wenslikheid van neo-liberalisme in Suid-Afrika skakelook in by die breër debat rakende
die sukses van neo-liberalisme in die generering van ekonomiese groei tot voordeel van
alle lede van die samelewing. Daar is daarom gepoog om deur 'n kwalitatiewe analise
van die navorsing en verskillende standpunte oor die onderwerp 'n objektiewe raamwerk
vir die evaluering van ekonomiese beleid af te lei. Hierdie raamwerk is gebruik as basis
vir 'n evaluering van neo-liberalisme in Suid-Afrika.
Daar is bevind dat neo-liberalisme oor die algemeen suksesvol is in die generering van
ekonomiese groei ter verligting van armoede, en dat die implementering van neo-liberale
ekonomiese beleidsmaatreëls nie noodwendig gepaard gaan met groter ongelykheid nie.
Daar is egter ook bewys gelewer van spesifieke gevalle waar neo-liberalisme
onsuksesvol is. Daarom word daar geredeneer dat die voortsetting van neo-liberalisme in
Suid-Afrika nie op grond van die sukses van die beleid in die globale konteks gemotiveer
kan word nie. Die sukses van die beleid blyk konteks-spesifiek te wees, en die evaluering
daarvan behoort dus dieselfde konteks-spesifieke basis te hê.
Neo-liberalisme is sedert die politieke oorgang in Suid-Afrika in 1994 geleidelik gevestig
as die basis van ekonomiese beleid. Die sukses van neo-liberalisme in Suid-Afrika is dus
geëvalueer deur 'n analise van die veranderinge in vlakke van armoede en ongelykheid
sedert hierdie oorgang. Daar is bevind dat daar min vordering gemaak is met die
vermindering van ongelykheid, dat vlakke van armoede verhoog het, en dat Suid-Afrika
se Menslike Ontwikkelingsindeks (as aanduiding van sukses van ontwikkelingsbeleid)
sedert 1994 afgeneem het.
Daar is dus tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat neo-liberalisme in Suid-Afrika rue
suksesvol is nie, en dat dit nodig is om 'n alternatiewe raamwerk vir die verligting van
armoede en vermindering van ongelykheid in die land te identifiseer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53756 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Du Toit, Frouwien Reina |
| Contributors | Leysens, A. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | af_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 96 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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