THE POLITICS OF NECESSITY, community organising and democracy in South Africa

241 pp., map, illus., paperback, Pietermaritzburg, 2011

Elke Zuern tracks the development of community organizations and social movements in South Africa's townships post-1994 and compares their experiences to those in other African and Latin American states, demonstrating how these movements offer opportunites to modern democracies to evolve into systems of rule that empower all citizens.

"A must-read. Here is an explanation of why democratic South Africa emerged, how its elites forgot the very people who brought them to power, and how these poor citizens struggle to be heard." Adam Habib, University of Johannesburg

First published by the University of Wisconsin.

Elke Zuern is associate professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence College.