Chris Tapscott

Social Mobilisation in Langa Township – A Study of Two Communities

Social movement theory advances a number of propositions, including the prevailing political opportunity structures and the ability to mobilise resources, why some collectives manage to mobilise successfully towards a particular cause and others fail. This study looks at two communities in Langa, the Backyard Dwellers and the residents of the Joe Slovo Informal settlement, and their different attempts to mobilise in towards attainment of public housing. Whilst the Joe Slovo community successfully mobilised to avoid relocation and were rewarded in their efforts by gaining access to dwellings in the Gateway Project, the Backyard Dwellers largely failed in their efforts to gain access to the same development. The study, which examines the reasons why the two social movements had different outcomes, is based on both quantitative and qualitative research.

Tapscott, C., “The Challenges of Deepening Democracy in Post-Apartheid South Africa”, in Saito, F., (ed) Foundations for Local Governance: Decentralisation in Comparative Perspective, (Springer, New York, 2008)
Thompson, L. and Tapscott, C. (eds) Citizenship, Mobilisation and Social Movements in the South: The Challenges of Inclusive Governance, (Zed Books. London 2010)

Tapscott, C. “Mobilisation and Social Movements in the South: The Challenges of Inclusive Governance”, with Thompson, L. in Thompson, L. and Tapscott, C. eds. Citizenship and Social Movements, Perspectives from the Global South: co-edited with Thompson, L., (Zed Books  London 2010)

Tapscott, C. “Social Mobilization in Cape Town: A Tale of Two Communities”, in Thompson, L. and Tapscott, C. eds. Citizenship and Social Movements, Perspectives from the Global South: co-edited with Thompson, L., (Zed Books London 2010).

Piper, L, Tapscott, C, and Thompson, L. “Where are the Democratic Mediators?”, in Mohanty, R, Thompson, L, and Coelho, V., States of Mobilisation, (African Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, UWC, 2010).
Tapscott, C. “South Africa: Federalism by Another Name”, Political Parties and Civil Society in Federal Systems, in Rensch, W. (ed). (McGill-Queen's University Press, 2011 forthcoming).