Jeremy Seekings and Nicoli Nattrass
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300108927
- eISBN:
- 9780300128758
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300108927.003.0002
- Subject:
- Political Science, Conflict Politics and Policy
This chapter explores the nature of South African society at the onset of the apartheid era and discusses the ways social and economic changes were affecting inequalities. It focuses on the relation ...
More
This chapter explores the nature of South African society at the onset of the apartheid era and discusses the ways social and economic changes were affecting inequalities. It focuses on the relation between class structure and income distribution during this period. With regard to income distribution, society is divided into three classes: rich white households occupying the higher position, coloured and Indian people in the middle and African people at the bottom. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the apartheid distributional regime that the National Party government inherited in 1948.Less
This chapter explores the nature of South African society at the onset of the apartheid era and discusses the ways social and economic changes were affecting inequalities. It focuses on the relation between class structure and income distribution during this period. With regard to income distribution, society is divided into three classes: rich white households occupying the higher position, coloured and Indian people in the middle and African people at the bottom. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the apartheid distributional regime that the National Party government inherited in 1948.
Jeremy Seekings and Nicoli Nattrass
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300108927
- eISBN:
- 9780300128758
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300108927.003.0003
- Subject:
- Political Science, Conflict Politics and Policy
This chapter explores the transformation of the South African society during the four decades of apartheid, focusing on the processes of class formation and the changing patterns of income ...
More
This chapter explores the transformation of the South African society during the four decades of apartheid, focusing on the processes of class formation and the changing patterns of income inequality. One process of social change is deagrarianisation, which transformed South Africa into a society that was unusually dependent on wage labour. Between 1950 and 1975, the overall distribution of incomes displayed elements of both continuity and change. By 1975, there were clear indications of a growing differentiation within the African population, but race still remained a key factor in inequality. The chapter concludes with alternative trajectories that South Africa might have followed: the route of land reform and the route of uncontrolled urbanisation.Less
This chapter explores the transformation of the South African society during the four decades of apartheid, focusing on the processes of class formation and the changing patterns of income inequality. One process of social change is deagrarianisation, which transformed South Africa into a society that was unusually dependent on wage labour. Between 1950 and 1975, the overall distribution of incomes displayed elements of both continuity and change. By 1975, there were clear indications of a growing differentiation within the African population, but race still remained a key factor in inequality. The chapter concludes with alternative trajectories that South Africa might have followed: the route of land reform and the route of uncontrolled urbanisation.
