Trade Unions and Democratization in South Africa, 1985-97

The writings in this volume see the South African labour movement as an actor capable of shaping democratization. Through the strategic use of power, labour has reconfigured democratization through negotiated compromises, attempting to ensure that the costs of adjustment are not borne by workers alone. The book examines these strategies and practices and assesses labour's capacity to exert influence in the future. The findings suggest that labour's marginalization would put at risk the consolidation of democracy.