POSC 1040 - General and UK

Vocabulary:

1. ABC Campaign: Campaign related to public health, often referencing AIDS, Be faithful, Condomize. It aimed at reducing the spread of HIV.

2. (Black) Africans: In South Africa, it refers to the country's indigenous people, mainly of Bantu-speaking groups.

3. African National Congress (ANC): The leading political party in South Africa, which was pivotal in the struggle against apartheid. Nelson Mandela was a notable leader.

4. Afrikaner: A South African ethnic group descended primarily from Dutch settlers that arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries.

5. AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, a disease caused by the HIV virus, which can be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusion, and from mother to child during childbirth.

6. Anti-retroviral drugs (ARDs): Medications used to manage and treat HIV. They do not cure HIV/AIDS but manage its effects and spread.

7. Apartheid: A policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race. It was institutionalized in South Africa from 1948 to 1994.

8. Apartheid (various Acts & Laws of...): Legislation that institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination, including laws like the Natives Land Act, Group Areas Act, etc.

9. AZT: Zidovudine, a type of antiretroviral medication used in the treatment of HIV.

10. Bantu Authorities Act (1951): Created structures for self-governing Bantu homelands in South Africa, a core part of the apartheid system.

11. Bantustan: Territories set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and Southwest Africa (now Namibia) as part of the policy of apartheid.

12. Battle of Blood River (1838): A conflict between Voortrekkers (Afrikaner settlers) and the Zulu kingdom, significant in Afrikaner nationalism.

13. Black Consciousness Movement: A grassroots anti-apartheid activist movement that emerged in the mid-1960s in South Africa, led by Steve Biko, focusing on political consciousness and identity.

14. “Black Empowerment” programs: Initiatives aimed at redressing inequalities and historical economic disparities between racial groups in South Africa post-apartheid.

15. Black Homeland Citizens Act (1970): Part of the apartheid system, this Act designated certain areas as ethnic homelands for black citizens.

16. Boer: Refers to the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the Eastern Cape frontier in South Africa during the 18th century.

17. Boer War(s): Two wars (1880-1881 and 1899-1902) fought between the British Empire and the two Afrikaner (Boer) republics, resulting in British victory and annexation.

18. Boomtown: A town undergoing rapid growth due to sudden prosperity, historically seen around mining areas in South Africa.

19. “Born free” generation: South Africans born post-apartheid, after 1994, who are theoretically free from the racial discriminations of the past.

20. BRICS: An acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

21. Capitalism: An economic system in which trade, industries, and the means of production are largely or entirely privately owned and operated for profit.

22. Collective identity: A shared sense of belonging to a group.

23. Coloured: A racial descriptor in South Africa for people of mixed ethnic origin, historically a significant group under apartheid categorisations.

24. Communist Party: 

25. Concurrent relationships: Having multiple romantic or sexual partners at the same time is a notable factor in the spread of HIV/AIDS.

26. Congress of the People (COPE): A political party formed in 2008 by former ANC members dissatisfied with the party’s direction.

27. Corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, often involving bribery.

28. Crime: In South Africa, it often refers to high rates of violent and non-violent crimes affecting all aspects of society.

29. Democratic Party/Alliance (DA): A major political party in South Africa, seen as the main opposition to the ANC.

30. Democracy:  A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or their elected agents under a free electoral system.

31. Democratization: The transition to a more democratic political regime, including substantive political changes moving in a more democratic direction.

32. Denialism: In South Africa, often related to AIDS, where some government leaders denied the link between HIV and AIDS, affecting public health responses.

33. Deputy President: The second-highest official in the executive branch of the government of South Africa after the President.

34. Developmental state: A state which puts economic development as a priority of government policy, often seen in East Asian contexts and debated in terms of its applicability to South Africa.

35. Dominant party system: One political party consistently dominates election outcomes and governance, as the ANC has in South Africa since 1994.

36. Dutch Disease: An economic condition whereby the increase in revenues from natural resources leads to a decline in other sectors like manufacturing or agriculture.

37. Economic deregulation: The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition.

38. Ethnicity: Social divisions based on shared characteristics such as culture, language, traditions, etc.

39. Freedom Charter: A statement of core principles of the South African Congress Alliance, which consisted of the ANC and its allies, adopted in 1955, advocating for a non-racial and united South Africa.

40. Generational Divide: Differences in opinions, beliefs, and practices between younger and older generations.

41. “Government of National Unity”: The government formed after the end of apartheid in 1994 intended to include various political parties to foster national unity.

42. Grand Apartheid: The term used to describe the intensified racial segregation policies of the apartheid era starting in the late 1950s.

43. Great Trek: The movement of Boer settlers in the 1830s from the Cape Colony into the interior of South Africa to escape British control and establish their settlements.

44. Growth, Employment, & Redistribution Policy (GEAR): An economic policy framework implemented in South Africa in 1996 aimed at stimulating economic growth, creating employment, and redistributing income.

45. Homelands: Designated areas for the majority black inhabitants of South Africa, created under apartheid as part of the policy of separate development.

46. Indian: Refers to South Africans of Indian descent, one of the recognized racial groups under apartheid policy.

47. Inequality: absolute vs relative: Absolute inequality refers to a scenario where one group is treated less favourably outright, while relative inequality involves comparisons of relative position or changes in distribution.

48. Influx control: Apartheid-era policy designed to limit the influx of black South Africans into urban areas, controlling their movement and residency.

49. Information and Communications Technology (ICT): Refers to technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications, which is important in modern education, governance, and business.

50. Institutionalized discrimination: Discrimination that has been incorporated into the structures, processes, and procedures of organizations or governments, as was seen with apartheid.

51. Irredentism: A political and popular movement intended to reclaim and reoccupy a 'lost' or 'unredeemed' area; not commonly used within the South African context but can apply to disputes over land.

52. Judicial independence: The principle that the judiciary should be independent from other branches of government and free from external pressures.

53. Liberalization: The process of eliminating economic restrictions, typically referring to free-market policies.

54. Mass organizations: Large groups, often informal, mobilized around a common issue. In South Africa, many such organizations participated in the anti-apartheid movement.

55. Migrant labourers: Workers who migrate from their home areas to work elsewhere, often seen in South Africa’s mining industry.

56. Mineral Revolution: The rapid industrialization and economic changes in South Africa stemmed from discovery of minerals like diamonds and gold in the 19th century.

57. Mines & Work Act (1956): Legislation in South Africa that formally segregated the workforce along racial lines.

58. Modernization (Theory): A theory that suggests societies progress through stages of economic, social, and political development from traditional to modern states.

59. Multinational state: A state with more than one nation within its borders. South Africa, with its diverse ethnic groups, can be considered a multinational state.

60. Nationalism: Patriotic feeling, principles, or efforts, often emphasizing collective identity; a significant factor in developing South African political boundaries and policies.

61. National Assembly: The lower house of South Africa's bicameral Parliament is responsible for making and passing national laws.

62. National Council of Provinces: The upper house of South Africa's bicameral Parliament, representing the provinces to ensure their interests are considered in the national legislative process.

63. National Party: The governing party of South Africa from 1948 until 1994, credited with establishing and maintaining apartheid.

64. Natives’ Land Act (1913): Legislation severely restricted land ownership by South Africa's black majority.

65. Oscar Pistorius: A South African Olympic sprinter, famously known both for his athletic achievements and his controversial legal case involving the shooting of his girlfriend.

66. Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC): A nationalist political party in South Africa formed in opposition to the ANC's policies, advocating for African nationalism and independence.

67. Passbook: An identification document which Blacks in South Africa were required to carry during apartheid. It restricted their movement and employment.

68. Pass Laws: An internal passport system designed to segregate the population, manage urbanization, and allocate migrant labor.

69. Patrimonial state: A form of governance in which all power flows directly from the leader, and political relationships are based on patronage rather than legal-rational administrative systems.

70. Patronage: The power to control appointments to office or the right to privileges. In political contexts, it refers to political leaders' distribution of jobs and resources to gain loyalty and support.

71. PEPFAR: The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a U.S. governmental initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world, including in South Africa.

72. Population Registration & Group Areas Act (1950): These laws classified South Africans by race and assigned racial groups to different residential areas.

73. Positive discrimination: Also known as affirmative action, this refers to policies that favor groups known to have been discriminated against previously.

74. Power sharing: A political arrangement in which different political parties or groups, often with divergent interests, share governmental power.

75. Predatory state: A state where those in power exploit national resources and the population for personal gain, often seen in discussions about corruption and governance.

76. Privatization: The transfer of ownership of property or businesses from the government to the private sector, often seen as a means to increase efficiency.

77. Prohibition of Mixed Marriages, Prevention of Immorality Act (1949): Laws that prohibited marriage between individuals of different races and regulated sexual relations among different racial groups in South Africa.

78. Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act (1995): Legislation that led to the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission aimed at addressing atrocities during apartheid and promoting healing and reconciliation.

79. Proportional representation: An electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the votes cast for them. Used in South Africa's parliamentary elections to ensure a fair representation of all parties.

80. Province(s): South Africa is divided into nine provinces, each with its own government. Provinces play a significant role in the administration of local governance and resources.

81. Provincial Administrations: The government structures operating at the provincial level in South Africa are responsible for various local and regional administrative functions.

82. Quotas: Policies that set a fixed number or percentage for representing or including certain groups, often used in South Africa to promote racial and gender diversity in education and employment.

83. Race: A socially constructed category used to classify humans based on physical differences. In South Africa, race has been a central factor in social, economic, and political divisions.

84. Racial Hierarchy: A classification system based on race where some races are inherently considered superior. Under apartheid, this was institutionalized to maintain white dominance.

85. Racialization (De- and Re-): The process of understanding race is used to categorize and divide people. De-racialization refers to efforts to diminish the importance of race in society, while re-racialization might mean the opposite.

86. Racial Supremacy: The belief that a particular race is superior to others. Historically, this underpinned many of South Africa's apartheid policies.

87. Rainbow Nation: A term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu to describe post-apartheid South Africa, reflecting its multiculturalism and new unity.

88. Reservation of Separate Amenities Act (1953): Apartheid legislation mandating racially separate public amenities (like bathrooms and parks), legally reinforcing segregation.

89. Sanctions: Penalties or restrictions imposed by one country onto another. During apartheid, many countries implemented economic sanctions against South Africa to pressure changes in racial policies.

90. SCOPA (Standing Committee on Public Accounts): A key committee in the South African Parliament that oversees government expenditures to ensure they are effective and legal.

91. Securocrat: A security forces member, especially in regimes where the military has substantial control over political decisions. In apartheid South Africa, securocrats had significant influence.

92. Serial monogamy: Engaging in a series of monogamous relationships over time. In social contexts, this may refer to relationship formation and dissolution patterns.

93. Settler state: A type of state primarily formed by settling foreign families who permanently live in and dominate the local population. South Africa is an example where European settlers established control.

94. Sharpeville Massacre: In 1960, South African police shot and killed 69 people at a peaceful protest in Sharpeville against the pass laws, marking a significant escalation in the anti-apartheid struggle.

95. Springbok: The national rugby team of South Africa, which has served as a symbol of pride and, at times, of racial integration, particularly during the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

96. Stigma: A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person. In South Africa, stigma has been associated with diseases like HIV/AIDS or identities within the context of past racial classifications.

97. Subnational government: Government entities that operate below the level of the national government, such as provincial or local governments in South Africa.

98. Township: Under apartheid, a poorly built residential area that was reserved for non-whites. Townships still exist and are often central in urban development and poverty discussions.

99. Transactional relationships: Relationships where material considerations play a significant role in selecting partners. In socio-economic discussions, such relationships regarding social mobility or survival strategies may be viewed.

100. Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC): A court-like body assembled in South Africa after the end of apartheid to help heal the country and bring about a reconciliation of its people by uncovering the truth about past abuses.

101. Umkhonto we Sizwe: The armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), founded in 1961 to fight against the apartheid government.

102. Voortrekkers: Dutch-speaking pioneer settlers of the Eastern Cape frontier in South Africa during the 1830s and 1840s who moved away from British control during the Great Trek.

103. “White Flight”: The phenomenon where white residents move away from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or rural areas. Observed in various historical and contemporary contexts, including post-apartheid South Africa.

104. Xhosa: One of the major ethnic groups in South Africa, known for its rich tradition and significant role in the country’s history. Nelson Mandela was Xhosa.

105. Zulu: The largest ethnic group in South Africa with a powerful history and significant cultural influence, historically led by figures such as King Shaka Zulu.