Backward Capitalism in Rural South Africa: Prospects for Accelerating Accumulation in the Eastern Cape. (5th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sender, John
• Is Part Of: Journal of agrarian change. Volume 16:Number 1(2016:Jan.)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2015-04-05
• Subjects: capitalism -- agriculture -- investment -- employment -- South Africa; Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Agriculture -- Periodicals -- History; Land tenure -- Periodicals; Land reform -- Periodicals; 338.1
• DOI: 10.1111/joac.12105
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-0358

Abstract

Abstract : The forces of production in rural South Africa and the performance of the agricultural sector form the central theme of this paper. It shows that the long‐term lack of dynamism of capitalist development in South Africa as a whole is reflected in and is responsible for failures of rural development. These failures have resulted in acute suffering, not least in Eastern Cape province, where barriers to dynamic capitalist growth remain very high. The paper concludes with proposals for promoting more rapid wage employment growth and capitalist development and for protecting vulnerable rural residents from the worst consequences of such development. The proposals are contrasted with the conventional wisdom in South Africa, especially the rural development strategies proposed by the current government.