The article investigates political development and constitutionalism in post-apartheid South Afri... more The article investigates political development and constitutionalism in post-apartheid South Africa by focusing on two general features of this society. These are firstly the enduring prevalence of violence defined broadly. The second feature is the particular democratic deficit manifested in the politics of professionalism associated with the New Public Management (NPM) informed developmental state. The article interprets these two trends as characteristic of ruptures and continuities with the apartheid state. It scrutinizes the underlying assumptions of political development and constitutionalism and critiques both as ideals for the post-apartheid state. It is concluded that political development and constitutionalism, as they have manifested in post-apartheid South Africa, are insufficient in alleviating the structural violence which characterizes the everyday for millions of South Africans. Ordinary citizens must obtain greater access to the decision-making processes in which they are currently not meaningfully included through contemporary developmental practices. Such inclusion would serve both as an end in itself and as a means towards greater two-directional integration between marginalized citizens and dominant processes of material and symbolic production and consumption. At the same time, constitutionalism, by enshrining a relatively inflexible approach to property rights, is impotent in the face of persistent and increasing material inequalities. More fortress-like gated communities are being built, guarded around the clock by armed men. Most of the white and black middle class barricade themselves behind increasing layers of security: bright lights; high perimeter-walls topped with electric fencing or razor wire; guard dogs; panic buttons and an alarm system linked to one of the many armed rapid-response security firms that promise to arrive within three minutes of a call. 2 The IEP singled out South Africa as being in conflict internally – driven by poverty, inequality, and the slow pace of reform by government, which, in turn, fuels crime, violent strike action and political confrontation. 3
In this paper a large-scale community-based disaster risk-assessment project, undertaken in the D... more In this paper a large-scale community-based disaster risk-assessment project, undertaken in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North-West Province of South Africa, is evaluated. In contrast to other disaster risk management consultancy projects in South Africa, this project included a significant skills transfer component to the at-risk communities and local government officials. In this evaluation, the authors draw on their own experiences in implementing this and similar projects, a review of the project management documents is undertaken, and a focus group interview with facilitators involved in the project is used as a primary source. The discussion is further contextualised in terms of community-based disaster risk assessment theory and the existing literature on disaster risk assessment in South Africa. Logistical and data quality issues as well as staff turnover were found to be concerns during the project. From the findings, it is argued that the common practice of outsourcing disaster risk-management projects is not conducive to effective disaster risk management. Local government entities should take responsibility for disaster risk assessment as a continual activity. This is in contrast to the view currently manifesting in South Africa as a set of bureaucratic actions undertaken by consultants to achieve ‘legislative compliance’ for municipalities.
The past three decades have seen a global shift in disaster management from an event driven respo... more The past three decades have seen a global shift in disaster management from an event driven response to a ‘could-be’ risk management approach. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) has become entrenched as a dominant paradigm within the field of disaster management.
More than a decade after adopting DRR legislation in South Africa there remains a dearth of evidence that this has translated into substantive action. This book examines the institutionalisation of DRR in South Africa, conceived of as a political economy of knowledge production. Using a critical theory approach, the book does not consider why DRR is failing but instead asks ‘why DRR?’ As such, it explores possibilities beyond DRR’s narrow optic and offers new insights into disaster management through the lens of South Africa.
The article investigates political development and constitutionalism in post-apartheid South Afri... more The article investigates political development and constitutionalism in post-apartheid South Africa by focusing on two general features of this society. These are firstly the enduring prevalence of violence defined broadly. The second feature is the particular democratic deficit manifested in the politics of professionalism associated with the New Public Management (NPM) informed developmental state. The article interprets these two trends as characteristic of ruptures and continuities with the apartheid state. It scrutinizes the underlying assumptions of political development and constitutionalism and critiques both as ideals for the post-apartheid state. It is concluded that political development and constitutionalism, as they have manifested in post-apartheid South Africa, are insufficient in alleviating the structural violence which characterizes the everyday for millions of South Africans. Ordinary citizens must obtain greater access to the decision-making processes in which they are currently not meaningfully included through contemporary developmental practices. Such inclusion would serve both as an end in itself and as a means towards greater two-directional integration between marginalized citizens and dominant processes of material and symbolic production and consumption. At the same time, constitutionalism, by enshrining a relatively inflexible approach to property rights, is impotent in the face of persistent and increasing material inequalities. More fortress-like gated communities are being built, guarded around the clock by armed men. Most of the white and black middle class barricade themselves behind increasing layers of security: bright lights; high perimeter-walls topped with electric fencing or razor wire; guard dogs; panic buttons and an alarm system linked to one of the many armed rapid-response security firms that promise to arrive within three minutes of a call. 2 The IEP singled out South Africa as being in conflict internally – driven by poverty, inequality, and the slow pace of reform by government, which, in turn, fuels crime, violent strike action and political confrontation. 3
In this paper a large-scale community-based disaster risk-assessment project, undertaken in the D... more In this paper a large-scale community-based disaster risk-assessment project, undertaken in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality in the North-West Province of South Africa, is evaluated. In contrast to other disaster risk management consultancy projects in South Africa, this project included a significant skills transfer component to the at-risk communities and local government officials. In this evaluation, the authors draw on their own experiences in implementing this and similar projects, a review of the project management documents is undertaken, and a focus group interview with facilitators involved in the project is used as a primary source. The discussion is further contextualised in terms of community-based disaster risk assessment theory and the existing literature on disaster risk assessment in South Africa. Logistical and data quality issues as well as staff turnover were found to be concerns during the project. From the findings, it is argued that the common practice of outsourcing disaster risk-management projects is not conducive to effective disaster risk management. Local government entities should take responsibility for disaster risk assessment as a continual activity. This is in contrast to the view currently manifesting in South Africa as a set of bureaucratic actions undertaken by consultants to achieve ‘legislative compliance’ for municipalities.
The past three decades have seen a global shift in disaster management from an event driven respo... more The past three decades have seen a global shift in disaster management from an event driven response to a ‘could-be’ risk management approach. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) has become entrenched as a dominant paradigm within the field of disaster management.
More than a decade after adopting DRR legislation in South Africa there remains a dearth of evidence that this has translated into substantive action. This book examines the institutionalisation of DRR in South Africa, conceived of as a political economy of knowledge production. Using a critical theory approach, the book does not consider why DRR is failing but instead asks ‘why DRR?’ As such, it explores possibilities beyond DRR’s narrow optic and offers new insights into disaster management through the lens of South Africa.
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Books by Gideon Van Riet
More than a decade after adopting DRR legislation in South Africa there remains a dearth of evidence that this has translated into substantive action. This book examines the institutionalisation of DRR in South Africa, conceived of as a political economy of knowledge production. Using a critical theory approach, the book does not consider why DRR is failing but instead asks ‘why DRR?’ As such, it explores possibilities beyond DRR’s narrow optic and offers new insights into disaster management through the lens of South Africa.
More than a decade after adopting DRR legislation in South Africa there remains a dearth of evidence that this has translated into substantive action. This book examines the institutionalisation of DRR in South Africa, conceived of as a political economy of knowledge production. Using a critical theory approach, the book does not consider why DRR is failing but instead asks ‘why DRR?’ As such, it explores possibilities beyond DRR’s narrow optic and offers new insights into disaster management through the lens of South Africa.