This book presents an interdisciplinary perspective on the large-scale processes of socio-economic and political change of two "young" democracies: post-apartheid South Africa and the post-socialist Czech Republic. As the political transition in both countries coincides with the intensified effects of globalization, especially with the advent of neoliberal economic ideologies and policies, the two countries exhibit a number of common features and parallels in their respective transitions and post-developments. The book's chapters describe the particular place(s) South Africa and the Czech Republic occupy in the dual processes of internationalization and globalization. (Series: International Politics / Internationale Politik - Vol. 19)

In Africa, the distribution of power and powerlessness seems to be more rigid than on other continents. Political power is in the hands of narrow elites, while the overwhelming majority has hardly any access to decision-making. The common denominator of this book is the notion of power. It follows the analytical differentiation between the concept of power over that which is largely used by mainstream political science, and the concept of power as social practice. The book asks pertinent questions on how power is composed, created, and used on the African continent. (Series: Afrikanische Studien/African Studies - Vol. 43)