Poverty Knowledge in South Africa - A Social History of Human Science, 1855-2005 (Paperback)

Poverty is South Africa's greatest challenge. But what is 'poverty'? How can it be measured? And how can it be reduced if not eliminated? In South Africa, human science knowledge about the cost of living grew out of colonialism, industrialization, apartheid and civil resistance campaigns, which makes this knowledge far from neutral or apolitical. South Africans have used the Poverty Datum Line (PDL), Gini coefficients and other poverty thresholds to petition the state, to chip away at the pillars of white supremacy, and, more recently, to criticize the postapartheid government's failures to deliver on some of its promises. Rather than promoting one particular policy solution, this book argues that poverty knowledge teaches us about the dynamics of historical change, the power of racism in white settler societies, and the role of grassroots protest movements in shaping state policies and scientific categories. Readers will gain new perspectives on today's debates about social welfare, redistribution and human rights, and will ultimately find reasons to rethink conventional approaches to advocacy.

General

Imprint:	Cambridge UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	August 2015
Authors:	Grace Davie
Dimensions:	228 x 153 x 17mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - Trade
Pages:	334
ISBN-13:	978-1-107-55173-2
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > African history > General Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues > Poverty Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Social issues > Unemployment Books > History > African history > General Books > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history Promotions
LSN:	1-107-55173-0
Barcode:	9781107551732

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