Systemic Racism in South Africa - by Rupert Taylor (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This book takes a critical macro-level political sociological perspective to understanding South African politics and society. Applying systemic racism theory to South Africa, the author argues that South African society through its exclusionary social mechanisms has assumed a systemically racist form that deeply compromises questions of truth and justice. Constitutive of, and embedded in, the structure of South African society, racism has a reach and a durability that runs deep through the successive stages of segregationism, apartheid, and liberal democracy.

Showing the limits of the rule of law in a racist society, the author offers a theoretically-informed interpretation as to why the national liberation struggle has fallen short of its promise to deliver a "better life for all," and as to why truth and justice remain so deeply compromised in South Africa today. The arguments advanced are supported by over thirty semi-structured interviews conducted by the author with high-profile South African politicians, jurists, and intellectuals; as well as by using Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearing transcripts - both public and "top-secret."

This thought-provoking book is driven by the imperative to offer a compelling and sustained argument for taking a systemic racism approach to interpreting South Africa for scholars and students of sociology, political science, race and ethnic studies, law, and South African history.

From the Back Cover

This book takes a critical macro-level political sociological perspective to understanding South African politics and society. Applying systemic racism theory to South Africa, the author argues that South African society through its exclusionary social mechanisms has assumed a systemically racist form that deeply compromises questions of truth and justice. Constitutive of, and embedded in, the structure of South African society, racism has a reach and a durability that runs deep through the successive stages of segregationism, apartheid, and liberal democracy.

Showing the limits of the rule of law in a racist society, the author offers a theoretically-informed interpretation as to why the national liberation struggle has fallen short of its promise to deliver a "better life for all," and as to why truth and justice remain so deeply compromised in South Africa today. The arguments advanced are supported by over thirty semi-structured interviews conducted by the author with high-profile South African politicians, jurists, and intellectuals; as well as by using Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearing transcripts - both public and "top-secret."

This thought-provoking book is driven by the imperative to offer a compelling and sustained argument for taking a systemic racism approach to interpreting South Africa for scholars and students of sociology, political science, race and ethnic studies, law, and South African history.

Rupert Taylor is a British political sociologist and a Visiting Research Scholar at the Centre for the Study of Ethnic Conflict, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. A Research Associate of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Rupert has served as Editor-in-Chief of Voluntas and Politikon and published in journals such as Telos, Race & Class, The Political Quarterly, Ethnic and Racial Studies, and African Affairs.

Review Quotes

"In addition to being thought-provoking and challenging conventional wisdoms, Taylor's book is exceptionally well written and argued with passion. It makes a real contribution. Anyone interested in understanding South Africa's politics, or racism more generally, needs to read it." (John McGarry, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, February 11, 2025)

About the Author

Rupert Taylor is a British political sociologist and a Visiting Research Scholar at the Centre for the Study of Ethnic Conflict, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. A Research Associate of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, Rupert has served as Editor-in-Chief of Voluntas and Politikon and published in journals such as Telos, Race & Class, The Political Quarterly, Ethnic and Racial Studies, and African Affairs.