"Transforming Civil Society, Citizenship and Governance: The Third Sector in an Era of Global (Dis)Order"
Graduate School in Humanities, University of Cape Town,
Cape Town, South Africa
July 7-10, 2002
ISTR Fifth International Conference

Plenary Session

Civil Society in South Africa

The purpose of the South Africa panel is twofold: to inform scholars and conference participants about the substantive debates informing the research of civil society in South Africa; and to profile major research projects that have recently concluded on civil society in the country.

Mark Swilling of the Spier Institute will focus on the South Africa part of the Johns Hopkins study which looks at the shape and size of civil society in South Africa. This presentation will explain this research within its comparative dimensions, highlight its research methodology, reflect on their major findings, and analyze their theoretical implications.

The second presentation will focus on citizenship in post-apartheid South Africa. This is of course a critically important area of reflection. Conceptions of citizenship are being effected by two transnational developments: the rise of neo-liberal market fundamentalism and The African Renaissance. This presentation will reflect on these developments, the meanings of citizenship, and how they impact on civil society in the post-apartheid era.

Finally, the third presentation, reflecting on contemporary debates in South Africa, will explore the role that civil society can play in both addressing the historical disparities bequeathed to us by apartheid, and in realizing a just society. In particular, this presentation will focus on civil society's political side, its role in transition, and just as importantly, its contribution to democratic consolidation. A noted scholar of South Africa's civil society will act as discussant and subject all three presentations to critical scrutiny.