Labor and Democracy in Namibia, 1971-1996 FROM THE PUBLISHER
Labor and Democracy in Namibia, 1971-1995 argues that a vibrant and autonomous civil society is crucial to the consolidation of new democracies, and it identifies trade unions, in particular, as especially important organizations of civil society. In Namibia, however, trade unions have emerged from the liberation struggle and the first years of independence in a weakened state. Dr. Bauer gives a lucid explanation for this phenomenon by tracing the origins and evolution of the trade unions in Namibia and discusses the implications for the future of democracy in Namibia.
FROM THE CRITICS
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Examines newly independent Namibia as a case study of the relationship between civil society and democratization in postcolonial African states. Bauer (African and comparative politics, U. of Delaware) looks at why black trade unions in Namibia took 40 years longer than the rest of Africa to organize successfully, and why they were so weak when they finally did emerge. She also demonstrates how a weakly organized labor force can be used either by the ruling party as a tool facilitating its continued monopolization of power, or as a power base for rival authoritarian rulers. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.
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