Transitions in Namibia : which changes for whom?

Abstract

This volume completes the research project on "Liberation and Democracy in Southern Africa" (LiDeSA). It mainly addresses socioeconomic and gender-related issues in contemporary Namibia. Most of the contributors are either Namibian, based in Namibia or have undertaken extensive research in the country. Their interest as scholars and/or civil society activists is guided by a loyalty characterised not by rhetoric but by empathy with the people. They advocate notions of human rights, social equality and related values and norms instead of being driven by an ideologically determined party-political affiliation. Their investigative and analytical endeavours depict a society in transition, a society that is far from being liberated. Not surprisingly, this compilation explores the limits to liberation more than its advances.

CONTENTS -- Transitions in Namibia – Namibia in Transition. An introductory overview/Henning Melber -- History and the Armed Struggle: From anti-colonial propaganda to 'patriotic history'?/Christopher Saunders -- Commercial Land Reforms in Postcolonial Namibia: What happened to liberation struggle rhetoric?/Phanuel Kaapama -- Between Politics and the Shop Floor: Which way for Namibia's labour movement?/Herbert Jauch -- Liberated Economy? The case of Ramatex Textiles Namibia/Volker Winterfeldt -- Old ties or new shackles? China in Namibia/Gregor Dobler -- Poverty, Politics, Power and Privilege: Namibia’s black economic elite formation/ Henning Melber -- Out of Order? The margins of Namibian ex-combatant ‘reintegration’/Lalli Metsola -- Imagining Post-Apartheid Society and Culture: Playfulness, officialdom and civility in a youth elite club in northern Namibia/Mattia Fumanti -- Regional Development and Decentralisation/Graham Hopwood -- Caprivi Under Old and New Indirect Rule: Falling off the map or a 19th century dream come true?Wolfgang Zeller / Bennett Kangumu Kangumu -- Ideas About Equality in Namibian Family Law/Dianne Hubbard -- HIV/AIDS in Namibia: Gender, class and feminist theory revisited/Lucy Edwards -- Decolonising Sexuality/Suzanne LaFont