This title introduces the subject of government and politics in contemporary South Africa to undergraduate students.

Contributors to the title received a broad term of reference and the editorial policy has been to leave the treatment of each topic to the judgement of the individual author as much as possible.

Thus it exposes students to the multifaceted nature of the discipline of political studies.

In 2015, South Africa celebrated its 21st anniversary as a democratic state. This anniversary was in part boosted by the largely successful rolling out of a fifth free and fair election process in the previous year, albeit with minor hiccups - among others, a vibrant and at times boisterous political party scene; re-energised civil society participation, and a critical reflection of the Chapter 9 institutions, with some under constant scrutiny. However, South Africa's coming-of-age story has also been peppered with signs of increased dissatisfaction with governmental decision making and leadership style, protests around the delivery of services, continuous development and poverty issues as well as concerns about the republic's international conduct and its image and reputation in Africa and the world. Government and politics in South Africa provides an up-to-date introductory narrative on the contemporary political environment in South Africa. Government and politics in South Africa examines and evaluates the processes and policies in place that drive South Africa every day. While most chapters continue to reflect on the first two decades of post-settlement South African politics and governments, particular emphasis is placed upon the Jacob Zuma-led government's first term of office (2009-2014), also touching on the initial months of this head of state's second tenure as president. It examines the current political sphere, the local, provincial and national government, the policy footprint related to these governments, voting behaviour and party politics, foreign policy and the global political economy. Government and politics in South Africa is aimed at both undergraduate and post-graduate students, and other interested observers to the complexities of South African politics and the governmental machinery that operates the country. Chris Landsberg (editor-in-chief) is SARChI chair of African diplomacy and foreign policy at the University of Johannesburg. Suzanne Graham (co-editor) is senior lecturer and doctor of politics at the University of Johannesburg.

From banished spectator to assertive actor, white supremacist South Africa emerged from the cold decades of international pariah-hood to play a transformational role in world affairs. Nearly two decades after the new Republic was democratically and constitutionally reconfigured, what have been the foreign policy agendas and ideologies of successive South African governments? How was foreign policy formulated? What instruments of diplomacy and statecraft did various governments use to execute their agendas? And how have successive governments viewed South Africa in relation to the sub-region, the broader African continent, the global South, the industrialised North, and the global governance terrain? These are the central questions addressed in The Diplomacy of Transformation as it moves from the period of white minority domination, starting in 1910, through successive governments and transitions, including the De Klerk moment, the Mandela years, the Mbeki era, the Motlanthe months, and the emerging Jacob Zuma period. For scholars, diplomats and interested readers alike, this is an interpretive and accessible analysis that opens up fresh insights into a century of the country's diplomatic history.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.