Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Strategies for South Africa’s development are often analysed from a predominantly
economic perspective, overlooking the key role that political and sociocultural
elements play in the developmental process. This study will assess possible
development strategies by making use of the modern world-systems (MWS)
theoretical perspective, due to the theory’s holistic approach to development. The
question is posed whether South Africa – in accordance with the MWS perspective –
will be able to ascend from its current semi-peripheral position in the hierarchy of the
modern world-system to the core group of states by 2025. The components for
national development are all-encompassing and require an increase in state strength,
long-term economic development, and domestic and international sociocultural
influence.
Prospects for South Africa’s ascent to the core have been explored within a 15-20
year time period because the capitalist world-economy is currently still in a phase of
contraction, or B-phase of growth (1973-2025). The modern world-systems
theoretical approach asserts that country mobility is more likely during this phase and
that ascent in the hierarchy will be increasingly difficult when the world-economy
begins its expansionary phase around 2025.
The study concludes that South Africa faces numerous external and internal
constraints to its development, despite the noteworthy economic, political and
sociocultural incentives that it could potentially capitalise on over the next fifteen
years. It is anticipated that these constraints will place the country in a position
whereby it will be unable to reap the benefits of the most optimal developmental
strategies put forward by the modern world-systems approach; hence it will be
severely challenged to attain core status by 2025. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Strategieë vir die ontwikkeling van Suid-Afrika word meerendeels geanaliseer vanuit
‘n hoofsaaklike ekonomiese invalshoek en dit het tot gevolg dat die rol wat politieke
en sosio-kulturele aspekte in die ontwikkelingsproses speel nie op ag geslaan word
nie. Die studie evalueer moontlike ontwikkelings-strategieë vir Suid-Afrika deur
gebruik te maak van die moderne wêreld-sisteem teoretiese benadering (MWS) wat ‘n
meer holistiese perspektief op ontwikkeling bied. Die vraag word gevra of Suid-
Afrika – in ooreenstemming met die uitganspunte van MWS - teen 2025 sal kan
vorder tot die kategorie van “kern-staat”, vanaf sy huidige status as “semi-periferale
staat”. Die allesomvattende komponente vir ontwikkeling wat MWS identifiseer
vereis die groei van staatskapasiteit, langtermyn ekonomiese ontwikkeling, en die
uitbreiding van regionale en internasionale sosio-kulturele invloed.
Die vooruitsigte vir Suid-Afrika se opgang is nagevors oor die verloop van ‘n 15-20
jaar tydperk, aangesien die kapitalistiese wêreld-ekonomie tans in ‘n fase van
kontraksie verkeer (B-fase van groei) tussen 1973-2025. Die MWS benadering
argumenteer dat opwaartse mobiliteit van state meer waarskynlik is tydens ‘n B-fase
van groei en dat opgang moeiliker sal word wanneer die wêreld-ekonomie weer ‘n
ekspansionistiese fase van groei betree in 2025.
Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat Suid-Afrika se ontwikkelings-uitdagings
deur beide eksterne en interne faktore bemoeilik word, nieteenstaande moontlike
sterkpunte op ekonomiese, politieke en sosio-kulturele gebied waarop dit sou kon
kapitaliseer oor die volgende 15 jaar. Hierdie faktore, word geargumenteer, sal
veroorsaak dat die optimale ontwikkelingstrategieë wat deur ander state gevolg is, nie
deur Suid-Afrika nagevolg sal kan word nie, en dat gevolglik, sonder innoverende
strategieë, die kanse dat die land kern-status teen 2025 sal bereik, gering is.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/19971 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Ferendinos, Michael Gerry |
| 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 | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Format | x, 133 p. Ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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