Bridging divides against erratic democratic trajectories: the politics of rural and urban social movements in Southern Africa

Abstract

This article examines the complex relationship between social and popular movements in Southern Africa across sectors and geographies amid erratic democracy. It analyzes how these sectorial and geographical divides undermine collective strategies and shape the contested legitimacy of neoliberal or undemocratic authorities. The article considers struggles over service delivery, housing, and accountability, as well as movements for land rights, natural resource control, and local governance. The convergence of these struggles highlights the urgency of forging cross-base alliances that bridge sectorial and geographical divides. Only by overcoming these fractures can social movements mount effective opposition to authoritarianism and advance an inclusive, participatory vision of democracy.