The emergence of civil society organizations in South Africa

Abstract

Abstract Only in the last 25 years or so have interest groups in Sub‐Sahara Africa become a focus of academic research. This is mainly due to an increasing number of societies becoming more democratic. What earlier research was conducted on interests and interest group activity in the sub‐region, heavily favoured a corporatist perspective; but in recent years the emphasis has been on the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in their relatively more autonomous role from the state. This paper examines the nature of interest group behaviour in Sub‐Sahara Africa and, in greater detail, in South Africa, focusing on the relationship between these groups and the state and society. The major premise presented is that democratization in the region since 1994 has weakened the corporatist hold of the state and has strengthened and expanded civil society. South Africa is used as an example of a developing democracy in which interest group activity has increased as shown by the wide range of CSOs and has produced a unique system combining corporatism and pluralism. Several cases are presented, including the role of traditional authorities, education, women's groups and the interests involved in the HIV/AIDS crisis. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.