Botshabelo: The face of ‘orderly urbanisation’?∗

Botshabelo (also known as Onverwacht) is the largest relocation area in South Africa, but very little is known about it. Towards the middle of 1986 a multi‐purpose survey was conducted in this area, covering, among others, topics such as cooperative development, the informal sector, the roles of religion and of women in development. social services and the general experience of urbanisation.

The main research findings centre on the politico‐ideological factors responsible for the establishment of Botshabelo, the consequences of the uncontrolled and uncontrollable urbanisation process, the absence of broad political and social solidarity and the specific forms of dependency facing Botshabelo. The majority of the population of Botshabelo find it difficult to cope with the demands of urban life. Various characteristics of a culture of poverty are present and there is a lack of integrated participation by a wide spectrum of participants in the area as a whole. The way in which Botshabelo came into being is by no means conducive to the formation of a sense of belonging.

Direct efforts have to be launched in order to break the stalemated position of Botshabelo's political, economic and social dependency. In this regard the need for opinion leaders, active involvement by women, the informal sector and cooperative development as well as the necessity for a high degree of participation are listed.     

Book briefs

World food marketing systems, Butterworth & Co, London, 1986.

Faces of hunger. An essay on poverty, justice and development, Studies in applied philosophy, Allen & Unwin, London, 1986. xiii + 178, distributed in South Africa by MacMillan South Africa, Braamfontein.

Decentralization and development — Policy implementation in developing countries, Sage Publications, London, 1983, 319 pp

Soviet interests in the Third World, Sage Publications, London, 1985, xi + 329 pp

No shortcuts to progress — African development management in perspective, Heinemann Educational Books Ltd, London, 1983, xv + 223 pp.

Strategies for African Development, University of California Press, London, 1986, xii + 603 pp.

Labour and poverty In Kenya 1900‐1980, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1986, xii + 296, £20,00     

Government expenditure in the independent and self‐governing national states of Southern Africa: An evaluation

Various commentators recently drew attention to the expenditure and financing of the independent and self‐governing national states in Southern Africa. The inference has been drawn that this expenditure appears wasteful and ineffective and constitutes little more than a costly political luxury.

This article makes an attempt at evaluating government expenditure in the national states in terms of the type and level of expenditure, its benefit incidence, as well as its efficiency.

Expenditure of the governments of the national states is largely on collective or social goods and services and therefore of the type widely expected to be provided by governments. Since the benefit incidence of this expenditure is not confined within the borders of the national states, but spills over into South Africa, government expenditure by these states benefits the common integrated economic system of Southern Africa.

With regard to the levels of expenditure, indications are that expenditure in many instances is too low. Increased expenditure in some categories might well show significantly increasing returns.     

The main findings of the district pilot project of labour‐intensive road construction and maintenance in Botswana and the implications for similar projects in South Africa

Unemployment has been identified as one of the main problems confronting South Africa. Recently, in order to improve rural infrastructure and create employment, several pilot projects of rural road construction have been initiated in South Africa. In such a context it is considered that attention should be drawn to a pilot project carried out some time ago in Botswana to examine the potential of labour‐intensive methods in the construction and maintenance of rural roads.

The main conclusion of the pilot project was that labour‐intensive methods were viable, although attention had to be paid to several critical factors. In 1982, following its evaluation of the pilot project, the Government of Botswana decided that over the next five years the technical and organisational methods developed during the pilot project should be replicated throughout Botswana.

After a brief survey of the background to the project, the paper summarises several important features of the pilot project and its main findings. The paper closes with some comments on the implications of this pilot project for those currently underway in South Africa.     

The role and place of research and intellectual discourse in the reproduction of social relations of racial domination in South Africa

The South African research community which undertakes all research activity in the social and natural sciences, with and without state and corporate sponsorship, draws its membership mainly from the dominant social group. In this country, the dominant group is both economically and racially determined. Consequently, the white minority dominates the research community and intellectual discourse as it does other socio‐economic and political spheres of society. This situation guarantees the constant reproduction and perpetuation of the social relations of racial domination.

As an agent that generates knowledge and new ideas, research as an academic and intellectual tool of enquiry is an instrument of social control, producing new concepts, language and theoretical abstractions which are not accessible to those outside its multi‐farious disciplines. Insofar as the largest proportion of practitioners of these specialised disciplines is drawn from the dominant group, research has itself become a pivotal part of the dominant ideology. Its role is inevitably and inextricably bound up with the processes of systematic reproduction of the relations of domination.

The aim of this viewpoint is therefore to explore various ways in which research bodies and intellectual discourse in general in South Africa can be deracialised and be made more representative of the social make‐up of society.     

Book briefs

Eastern Cape publication

Institute of Social and Economic Research

Development issues in the Eastern Cape: A review and assessment Working Paper 25, University of Rhodes, 1986, 96 pp. R5.

Richard N Langlois (ed)

Economics as a process ‘Essays in the New Institutional Economics’, Cambridge University Press, London, 1986, xi + 262 pp, R87,70

Paul Collier, Samir Radwan and Samuel Wangwe with Albert Wagner

Labour and poverty in rural Tanzania ‘Ujamaa and Rural Development in the United Republic of Tanzania’, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1986, vii + 143 pp, £17,50

Allen Buchanan

Ethics, efficiency, and the market Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1985, xi + 135 pp, £15,00     

Conference on development policies in Southern Africa: Was the future shaped?

The Development Society of Southern Africa held its biennial conference from 10—12 September at the University of Cape Town. The theme was ‘Development policies: Shaping the future of Southern Africa’. Fifty‐five papers were presented and discussed by some 350 people at plenary and parallel sessions. There was also a panel discussion, a number of lead‐in discussants, and a poster session; three conference newspapers containing the essence of the discussions were published and a number of videos on developmental and related topics were shown.

The question to be answered in this review is whether all these papers and other activities actually achieved what the conference set out to do: shaping the future development policy for Southern Africa.     

Book briefs

G Antonelli and A Quadrio‐Curzio (eds) The agro‐technological system towards 2000 North Holland.

W J Baumol Superfairness: Applications and theory The MIT Press, Massachusetts, 1986

E Boonzaier and J Sharp (eds) South African keywords: The uses and abuses of political concepts David Philip, Cape Town and Johannesburg, 1988

C Bryant (ed) Poverty, policy, and food security in Southern Africa Lynne Rienner Publishers. Boulder, Colorado, 1988

J Butler. R Elphick and D Welsh (eds) Democratic liberalism in South Africa: Its history and prospect David Philip, Cape Town and Johannesburg. 1987

D P Chaudhri and A J Dasgupta Agriculture and the development process: a study of Punjab Croom Helm, London, 1985

R Cohen (ed) Satisfying Africa's food needs: Food production and commercialization in African agriculture Lynne Rienner Publishers. Boulder/London, 1988

J M Conrad and C W Clark Natural resource economics: Notes and problems Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1987

D E Janvry and K Subbarao Agricultural price policy and income distribution in India Oxford University Press, Delhi, 1986     

Social work and development

After a discussion of the background of development, the evolution of social work and its place in development is examined. Internationally, social work has only lately started focusing on community work rather than just on case or group work. In South Africa such concern with development has not been so evident, although there have been some dramatic turns in the past decade.

The profession of social work and its training are discussed and finally attention is drawn to the need for cooperation with a number of other professions. The author's conclusion is that social work in South Africa has not kept in close enough touch with social changes taking place.     

Inward industrialisation,subcontracting and the construction industry in the Western Cape

One important aspect of current government economic thinking is that of inward industrialisation. In turn, subcontracting is seen as one of the ways of promoting inward industrialisation. Further, the construction and provision of low‐cost housing is considered by many to be the most important leading sector in generating economic growth.

This paper examines the construction undustry for low cost housing tn the Western Cape, the position which subcontracting currently holds in this industry and the broader implications for inward industrialisation.

The paper is based on the results of a survey carried out in the Western Cape during 1989. The results of the survey suggest the promotion of subcontracting has some positive and some negative consequences for economic development through inward industrialisation. Some doubts are however cast on the ability of the building industry to act as a ‘leading sector’ tn the process of economic development     

The ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ in the discourses of the Central Asian states: political rhetoric of growth and academic prognostication

As official discourses throughout Central Asia reflect, China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ has become very attractive to the local regimes. They perceive it as corresponding to the urgent need to achieve social and economic growth and maintain alternatives for international cooperation. Political elites have incorporated the BRI-agenda into their rhetoric of growth and actively promote the idea of BRI’s ‘conjugation’ with local development plans. The success of the initiative, however, differs from state to state.

The BRI-related narratives of local expert communities mainly correspond to the goals set by the officials. At the same time, local experts elucidate important issues, such as BRI’s impact on national security, Chinese migration, and public discontent. These elucidations may adjust the official stand towards the BRI. The possibility of such adjustments, varying in different Central Asian states, depends in each case on the openness of a regime to scholarly prognostications.

Abbreviations: BRI - Belt and Road Initiative; CDA - Critical Discourse-Analysis; DHA - Discourse-Historical Approach; SCO - Shanghai Cooperation Organisation; EAEU - Eurasian Economic Union; TAPI -Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (pipeline)     

Black land in white Natal: Administrative constraints on land reform

Very little land outside of KwaZulu is occupied by black people in Natal. This paper considers the position of black people living in freehold areas and established urban areas in Natal.

The administrative structures that purport to cater for these areas embody both horizontal and vertical constraints on efficient social provision.

Land reform accordingly appears to offer little more than a worsening of the situation if implemented before these structural constraints have been addressed.     

A remodelled approach to measuring the social impact of tourism in a developing country

Residents living in communities with tourism activities form a vital part of the tourism industry; without their support, the industry will likely fail. It is the understanding of the Social Exchange Theory that residents should receive a form of physical award for accepting visitors into their environment, however, with the case of South Africa, there are various factors that inhibit the flow of such benefits. Regardless, the residents remain supportive. It was therefore determined that the intangible social impacts of tourism also play a vital role in fostering community support. To better manage both the tangible and intangible social impact perceptions, a framework was successfully developed by means of structural equation modelling (SEM). This novel framework may aid tourism managers to predict and strategically manage the social impact perceptions of tourism in a developing country such as South Africa in order to foster the vital community support for this industry.

Abbreviations: SEM: Structural equation modelling     

Basic socio‐economic elements of a development theory for traditional societies

Notwithstanding the existence of various ‘development paradigms’, little has been done to analyse the fundamental economic determinants of development.

Most important is the basic functioning of supply and demand which, in the traditional society, is determined by religion, customs and rules, resulting in a limited choice and volume of consumption, as well as limited production.

Stimulation of the economy can according to community development principles, be brought about by an increase in demand (needs) to serve as motivation for increased production.

Higher production though, necessitates a change in traditional values and the development of abilities and skills. This is primarily the field of community development.     

The influence of Newtonian‐Cartesian scientific thinking on the interpretation of welfare and development

Development planning is essentially an exercise in strategy formulation and implementation. The first step in strategy formulation is the design of effective practice: doing the right things. Therefore strategic thinking requires that the context be considered before the particular. This requires a metaperspective.

In scientific practice such a metaperspective requires first of all an inquiry into the appropriateness of the paradigms, theories and models that are used in research and practice. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the vibrant discourse on development and welfare theory by proposing that this discourse is caught in the thought trap of the Newtonian‐Cartesian scientific culture of reductionism, disciplinarity and multidisciplinarity.

The evolution of scientific tradition from classical to Newtonian‐Cartesian is reviewed and also the contrasting societal and developmental implications of changes in this tradition. Tönnies's social transition theory and technological innovation are used to illustrate the need for a synthesis between the classical and modern traditions of science, in particular between the search for wisdom and understanding which dominated classical science and insight and specialised knowledge which regulate progress in modem science.

It is proposed that the social systems approach (the ‘soft’ systems approach) can provide some guidelines for a metaperspective (a grand synthesis) for studies in social welfare and human development The social systems approach is transdisciplinary and its process of synthesis differs fundamentally from the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary procedures that are often used to provide a synthesis between projects and disciplines in development planning. Its proposed synthesis also differs in important respects from the structure‐functionalist approach ofTalcott Parsons.     

Inefficient land use in KwaZulu: Causes and remedies

Rural KwaZulu is a less developed region of South Africa. Despite intense population pressure, arable land is underutilized. Grazing resources are overutilized.

Supply response to price incentives and farmer support programmes is inelastic as the potential gains to farmers are limited by small farm sizes. Facilitating the land rental market could improve efficiency informing, and also has equity advantages. Institutional changes are needed to encourage land rental

Overstocking occurs primarily because grazing is an open access common property resource. Unlike most solutions to overstocking (eg cattle taxes and quotas), privatization of grazing land (even in the limited sense that arable land is privately controlled) would not only encourage stock‐owners to reduce stocking rates but would also improve their incentive to upgrade herd and pasture quality. It is recommended that privatization be promoted in areas where it is more acceptable to households.     

The role of universities in training for development

The first part of this article starts by discussing the central issue of what a university ought to be in the Southern African context. Included in the analysis is the conventional model for a university as well as the urge for relevance of the university and the issue of relevance in an intensely changing region.

In the second part of the article the focus moves to the changing debate on the concept of development Development has increasingly been defined as striving towards creating opportunities for people to move towards increased humanity.

In order to bring about development as defined in this way, the participation of the people, the recognition of social Justice, education in the broadest sense of the word, community development that can lead to social reconstruction, as well as the provision of a sphere for meaningful existence will have to be included in university training for development This article addresses aspects of such a humantsatlon of university training for development.     

Indigenous law and development

Law is often used as a means of social engineering, an analysis of which requires an understanding of the nature, possibilities and limits of law. It is closely related to the way of life of the people it is to serve, it is both dynamic and conservative in nature, and it follows, as well as at times directing, change.

Africa is faced with a plurality of legal systems, posing the need for unification, integration, and modernisation. Indigenous or customary law is often regarded as an obstruction to development in Africa. Since customary law is closely related to the life of the people it serves, it cannot be disregarded in programmes of economic and social development.     

Publications

Herbert Feith and Lance Castles, (ed.) Indonesian Political Thinking 1945-1965. Cornell University Press, 1970. Pp. xvi + 505. Price $US13.50.

Usha Mahajani, Soviet and American Aid to Indonesia-1949-68. Papers in International Studies, Southeast Asia Series No. 14, Ohio University Center for International Studies, Athens, Ohio, 1970. Pp. vii + 41. Price $2.00.

B. Soedarso, Korupsi di Indonesia [Corruption in Indonesia]. Djakarta, Bhratara, 1969. Pp. 108.

Gunnar Myrdal, Asian Drama. New York, Pantheon Press, 1968. (Volume II, pp. 937-958.)

R. E. Park, Effects of Graft on Economic Development: An Examination of Propositions from the Literature. Rand Corporation, June 1969. Pp. 29. Bibliography.

Syed Hussein Alatas, The Sociology of CoCorruption. Singapore, Donald Moore Press, 1968. Pp. 87. Bibliography.

Neil J. Smelser, (Ed.) Readings in Economic Sociology. Englewood, New Jersey, Prentice Hall, 1965. Pp. 303.

J. S. Nye, ‘Corruption and Political Development: A Cost-Benefit Analysis’, American Political Science Review, June 1967. Bibliography.