Labour has been a neglected actor in the literature on democratization. In South Africa it has played a central role in shaping the transition to democracy, though it remains an open questions whether labour can sustain this involvement during the period of consolidation. As elsewhere, economic liberalization can lead to stagnation and can impose high costs on working people, while weakening the state.

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

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Glenn Adler and Eddie Webster