Swilling Mark

Reviving the tradition of critical, analytical scholarship developed by the 1970s and 1980s editions of the South African review, this first volume of the New South African review offers a collection of original surveys of key issues and problems confronting post-apartheid South Africa. Written by a team of engaged social scientists and based often on new research, the volume ranges widely across the implications of the international crisis for the economy, the threats to our fragile ecology of present economic strategies, through to the state of the ANC and the public service, issues around service delivery, migration, HIV/AIDS, land reform, crime, the sexual behavior of our youth, and much more. Posing the provocative question of whether South Africa is embarking upon a long-term decline, the volume simultaneously argues the potential for a society premised upon social equality, social coherence and sustainability. This collection will appeal to a wide audience, national and international, interested in engaging with the multiple dilemmas and challenges facing contemporary South Africa.

The world stands at a pivotal juncture, grappling with two opposing forces: the urgent need for accelerated sustainability transitions through collaboration and peacebuilding, and the rise of climate-denying authoritarianism alongside resource-driven geopolitical conflicts. This book confronts this critical choice, arguing that the survival of human civilisation hinges on embracing the sustainability transition rather than resisting it. Building on the foundational ideas of polycrisis and just transitions introduced in its first edition, this updated volume delves deeper into the dynamics of global change. Drawing inspiration from African relational thinking (the ukamian way), it challenges readers to engage with the evolutionary potential of the present and envision sustainable futures. While the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 provided a framework for global progress, the post-pandemic world has fractured along multiple fault lines, amplifying despair and uncertainty. Despite these challenges, the book identifies emerging empirical and ideational trends that offer hope for a more equitable and sustainable future. It explores the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, highlighting the delicate balance between decarbonisation and social justice in an increasingly unequal world. It examines the resistance posed by authoritarian populism and toxic masculinities, which threaten progress. Ultimately, this book is a call to action, urging readers to understand the complexities of just transitions as a remedy for the polycrises humanity faces. It offers no easy answers but provides essential insights for those committed to building a sustainable and equitable world. This is a book about hope—hope grounded in the transformative power of informed action.