This book shows the applicability of Thomas Kuhn's theory of the structure of scientific revolutions to the struggle for social change in southern Africa. The components of this theory which seem applicable to the conflict and the struggle for fundamental social change in this troubled region of Africa are: definition of paradigms, their functions, the elements of paradigm shifts and their effect, the relationship between paradigm shift in natural and social science, and the concept of anomaly. This study utilizes the components of this theory to discuss why the problems of southern Africa seem to defy this solution.

From early human civilisation to today, this book illuminates the history of southern Africa. Interweaving social, cultural and political history, archaeology, anthropology and environmentalism, Neil Parsons and Alois Mlambo provide an engaging account of the region's varied past. Placing African voices and agency at centre stage rather than approaching the subject through a colonial lens, A History of Southern Africa provides an engrossing narrative of the region. This textbook is ideal for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of History and African Studies, and will provide an essential grounding for those taking courses in the history of southern Africa. Its lively and accessible approach will appeal to anyone with an interest in global history.

With the end of apartheid rule in South Africa and the ongoing economic crisis in Zimbabwe, the border between these Southern African countries has become one of the busiest inland ports of entry in the world. As border crossers wait for clearance, crime, violence, and illegal entries have become rampant. Francis Musoni observes that border jumping has become a way of life for many of those who live on both sides of the Limpopo River and he explores the reasons for this, including searches for better paying jobs and access to food and clothing at affordable prices. Musoni sets these actions into a framework of illegality. He considers how countries have failed to secure their borders, why passports are denied to travelers, and how border jumping has become a phenomenon with a long history, especially in Africa. Musoni emphasizes cross-border travelers' active participation in the making of this history and how clandestine mobility has presented opportunity and creative possibilities for those who are willing to take the risk.

This volume examines the ways in which changing political and economic processes impact upon patterns of population movement and settlement. It focuses on the southern African region as it has moved from the experiments of the early independence era, through civil war and refugee flight, into the current era characterised by globalization and the demise of apartheid. Focused case studies from across the region deal with specific aspects of these transformations and their policy implications.

First published in 2004 , this work is based on a collaborative research project, this trilogy considers the dynamics of demilitarisation and peace-building in southern Africa in the aftermath of major violent conflicts. The overall aim of the research is to support and facilitate the achievement of sustainable peace and human development in southern Africa, by analysing demilitarisation and peace-building processes in the region and identifying policy options and interventions for peace-building. The central focus of the research is the extent to which demilitarisation following the termination of wars has contributed to broad processes of peace-building in the affected region. Has the military in southern Africa downsized and refocused towards new roles? Has there been a 'peace-dividend', allowing more investment in economic and human development, thereby dealing with some of the root causes of conflict? Volume I provides a conceptual framework for the analysis of demilitarisation and peace-building processes, applicable particularly in the southern Africa context. This volume argues that a broad concept of peace-building has to take into account economic, political, social and cultural factors, at the local, national and regional level.

First published in 1988, The Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of Southern Africa provides a guide to the often confusing politics of Southern Africa. The book identifies and explains political figures, organisations, systems and terminology from the region in a clear and practical way. It covers eleven countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Although first published in 1988, this book will be a valuable resource for journalists, students, diplomats, business people, and anyone else who is interested in the politics of this richly diverse continent.

National liberation, one of the grand narratives of the twentieth century, has left a weighty legacy of unfulfilled dreams. This book explores the ongoing struggle for legitimate, accountable political leaders in postcolonial Southern Africa, focussing on dilemmas arising when ex-liberation movements form the governments. While the spread of multi-party democracy to most countries in the region is to be celebrated, democratic practice often has been superficial - a limited, elitist politics that relies on the symbols of the liberation struggle to legitimate de facto one-party rule and authoritarian practices. Using country cases from Tanzania, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zambia, the collection explores three subthemes relevant to postcolonial governance in Southern Africa: how the struggle for liberation shapes the character of political transformation, the nature of rule in one-party dominant states headed by former liberation movements, and the processes of governance and resistance in post-liberation contexts. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of Contemporary African Studies.

The book examines the cleavage structures and the positioning of political parties in countries of Southern Africa including Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia. Each case compares the relevant cleavages according to the formulae set of Rae and Taylor with the policies of the competing political parties according to the Manifesto Research Group Wordscores analysis. The comparative perspective concludes with the definitions of Left, Right and Liberal in the context of the Southern Africa and shows determinant of party success and failure.

This is a publication of the Institute for Indigenous Theory and Practice and the HSRC Co-operative Programme: Affordable Social Provision. It consists mainly of the edited contributions to an indaba on indigenous knowledge and practice organized by the Institute for Indigenous Theory and Practice at the South African Museum, Cape Town, on 24 November 1994. While the HSRC values the opportunity to disseminate information on the very important research and services referred to in this publication, it does not necessarily agree with all the views expressed and the conclusions reached in the publication.