State-civil society relations in post-apartheid South Africa

Abstract

This chapter is divided into tree separate sections. The first, which serves as a backdrop to the analysis, describes the set of relations between the state and civil society agencies in the apartheid era. This is followed by a description of the initiatives undertaken by the state, sometimes independently and at other times at the instance of other actors, to redefine the post-apartheid civil society arena. The chapter then analysis how different civil-society actors have responded to these initiatives and to the challenges of the post-apartheid moment, and how this had informed their relations with the state. Finally, the conclusion reflects on current assessments of, and advances the author's view on contemporary state-civil society relations in South Africa.