Mega-churches and the neo-Pentecostalisation of South Africa’s black middle class
- Authors: Ngoma, Amuzweni Lerato
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Megachurch , Charismatic Movement , Pentecostalism South Africa , Middle class Black people South Africa , Bourdieu, Pierre, 1930-2002 , Habitus (Sociology) , Social capital (Sociology)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432422 , vital:72869 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432422
- Description: This thesis argues that the presence and expansion of South African neo-Pentecostal Charismatic Churches (neo-PCCs) and mega-churches holds significant political economy consequences. Methodologically, the thesis is anchored on digital and in-person ethnography, life history and in-depth interviews. The central argument of this thesis is that neo-PCCs and mega-churches are holding spaces for societal change. The symbolic capital of neo-PCCs and mega-churches and the neo-Pentecostalised habitus, which is co-produced by middle-classes acts as a conduit that facilitates social transitions of political and economic orders. Indeed, religion emerges as a transition mechanism as Durkheim argued for France. It has helped South African social groups to extricate themselves from racist discourses, foster non-racialism and build empowered, somewhat deracialised modern middle-class discourses and tastes. White and Black middle classes have co-produced neo-Pentecostal habiti in the post-apartheid era, that have first, built dispositions for neoliberal capital democracy from apartheid capitalism, second as a middle classing and elite making mechanism and field, third as a stabilising, consolidating and upward strategy of social reproduction. In this way, neo-PCCs and the Black middle class have significantly affected the post-apartheid social formation by producing dispositions that uphold financialised neoliberal capitalism. Significantly, accumulated cultural capital is an indispensable resource in initiating and building post-apartheid institutions. As in the neo-PCC field, it has been pastors, prophets and bishops that have demonstrated the capability to accumulate, transubstantiate and maintain cultural capital that has made their churches comparatively durable social institutions. In a political economy context of state-capture and corruption, a post-GFC-and-COVID-19 milieu characterised by the absence of economic growth, rising unemployment, business closure and ever-increasing interest rates that affect indebted middle-class households and the poor alike, the mega-churches studied herein and their neo-Pentecostalised Black middle class adherents expressed an intense dislike for South African politicians across party lines, and especially the poor performance of the African National Congress-dominated state. So that it is possible that mega-churches and their leaders will outlive many new political parties and independents in the same way that they have outlived post-1994 political parties such as the New National Party, Agang South Africa and the Independent Democrats. Much like the buffer Black middle class that was promoted by the apartheid state as a project of reforming apartheid in the 1970s, whose political activism was pragramatically disengaged, this will likely continue, unless if, generally the post-apartheid Black middle classes shift their sociality from in-ward looking-enclaved social anxiety. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2023
- Full Text:
- Authors: Ngoma, Amuzweni Lerato
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Megachurch , Charismatic Movement , Pentecostalism South Africa , Middle class Black people South Africa , Bourdieu, Pierre, 1930-2002 , Habitus (Sociology) , Social capital (Sociology)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432422 , vital:72869 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432422
- Description: This thesis argues that the presence and expansion of South African neo-Pentecostal Charismatic Churches (neo-PCCs) and mega-churches holds significant political economy consequences. Methodologically, the thesis is anchored on digital and in-person ethnography, life history and in-depth interviews. The central argument of this thesis is that neo-PCCs and mega-churches are holding spaces for societal change. The symbolic capital of neo-PCCs and mega-churches and the neo-Pentecostalised habitus, which is co-produced by middle-classes acts as a conduit that facilitates social transitions of political and economic orders. Indeed, religion emerges as a transition mechanism as Durkheim argued for France. It has helped South African social groups to extricate themselves from racist discourses, foster non-racialism and build empowered, somewhat deracialised modern middle-class discourses and tastes. White and Black middle classes have co-produced neo-Pentecostal habiti in the post-apartheid era, that have first, built dispositions for neoliberal capital democracy from apartheid capitalism, second as a middle classing and elite making mechanism and field, third as a stabilising, consolidating and upward strategy of social reproduction. In this way, neo-PCCs and the Black middle class have significantly affected the post-apartheid social formation by producing dispositions that uphold financialised neoliberal capitalism. Significantly, accumulated cultural capital is an indispensable resource in initiating and building post-apartheid institutions. As in the neo-PCC field, it has been pastors, prophets and bishops that have demonstrated the capability to accumulate, transubstantiate and maintain cultural capital that has made their churches comparatively durable social institutions. In a political economy context of state-capture and corruption, a post-GFC-and-COVID-19 milieu characterised by the absence of economic growth, rising unemployment, business closure and ever-increasing interest rates that affect indebted middle-class households and the poor alike, the mega-churches studied herein and their neo-Pentecostalised Black middle class adherents expressed an intense dislike for South African politicians across party lines, and especially the poor performance of the African National Congress-dominated state. So that it is possible that mega-churches and their leaders will outlive many new political parties and independents in the same way that they have outlived post-1994 political parties such as the New National Party, Agang South Africa and the Independent Democrats. Much like the buffer Black middle class that was promoted by the apartheid state as a project of reforming apartheid in the 1970s, whose political activism was pragramatically disengaged, this will likely continue, unless if, generally the post-apartheid Black middle classes shift their sociality from in-ward looking-enclaved social anxiety. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Sociology, 2023
- Full Text:
Stakeholder relationship management and the perception of trust: a case study of a salient stakeholder
- Authors: Chambers, Craig Brian
- Date: 2022-06
- Subjects: Stakeholder management South Africa Sundays River (Eastern Cape) , Stakeholder theory , Trust , Industrial priorities , Social capital (Sociology)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419060 , vital:71612
- Description: Trust is an essential aspect in developing meaningful relationships between firms and their stakeholders. Mayer, Davis and Schoorman (1995, p.709) define trust as “the willingness of a party to be vulnerable to the actions of another party based on the expectation that the other party will perform a particular action important to the trustor irrespective of the ability to monitor or control that other party”. This study took the form of an explanatory case study that focussed on an interaction between a firm and a salient stakeholder and attempted to explain how this interaction influenced the perceived trustworthiness of the firm in stakeholders that were observing the interaction. The study attempted to add to the work of Crane (2020), whose research had focussed on stakeholder connectedness, and specifically how this could be utilized by firms interacting with stakeholders to engender trust in a wider group of stakeholders. The research aimed to evaluate how the Sterile Insect Release programme, operating by the firm in the Sunday’s River Valley, was given a second chance through engagement with a salient stakeholder and how the interaction was observed by a wider group of stakeholders leading to perceived stakeholder trustworthiness and social capital. The study had five objectives, namely to; (1) analyse how a firm’s ability, benevolence, and integrity enables (or does not engender) the development of the firm’s trustworthiness amongst its stakeholders; (2) analyse how the firm’s engagement with a salient stakeholder enables (or does not engender) increased levels of trustworthiness in the firm by the stakeholders that are observing its interaction with a salient stakeholder; (3) analyse the benefits of social capital gained through increased levels of stakeholder trust; (4) identify good practice guidelines for firm engagement with salient stakeholders to ensure the correct cues are portrayed to observing stakeholders for the development of the trustworthiness of the firm; and (5) make recommendations related to management practices that will support the development of trust. The research adopted a qualitative approach and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with three groups of stakeholders that were present at the meeting. A review of the literature was undertaken to identify various propositions for the research and from which a theory-driven coding memo was developed. The derived propositions were as follows: (1) observing a firm’s engagement with a single salient stakeholder will provide cues to observing stakeholders about the trustworthiness of the firm, and (2) perceptions of a firm’s trustworthiness will result in increased social capital between the firm and its stakeholders. The first proposition was divided into three sub-propositions for the study which stated; (a) observing a firm’s engagement with a single salient stakeholder will provide cues to observing stakeholders about the ability of the firm; (b) observing a firm’s engagement with a single salient stakeholder will provide cues to observing stakeholders about the benevolence of the firm; and (c) observing a firm’s engagement with a single salient stakeholder will provide cues to observing stakeholders about the integrity of the firm. From the literature analysis, various themes were identified which include, observed interactions, ability, benevolence, integrity, trustworthiness, and increased social capital. The research findings confirmed the propositions as being relevant to the case study. The findings confirmed that ability, benevolence, and integrity are key attributes in portraying trustworthiness when interacting with a salient stakeholder. All three attributes were noted by the interviewees as being important to observing stakeholders in the development of trust in a firm, although ability and integrity were found to be the dominant attributes in this case study. The findings did present some evidence that an increased level of perceived trustworthiness in the firm did positively influence the levels of social capital, however, this was not a common theme among all the interviewees. In the light of these findings, it is recommended that firms utilize stakeholder models to identify salient stakeholders that are influential within the markets in which they operate. The firm should actively pursue a strong relationship with these stakeholders, and further attempt to generate opportunities to interact with these stakeholders in a public forum where stakeholder connectedness could be utilized to develop perceived trust in the wider group of stakeholders. The firm should focus on open, honest, and transparent communication which are key aspects for portraying the attributes of ability, benevolence, and integrity. The study addresses a gap in the trust literature at a stakeholder level and therefore has contributed to the trust literature by addressing how the connectedness between stakeholders can lead to trust in a wider group of stakeholders by increasing efficiency during these interactions and utilizing situational circumstances to build social capital. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2023
- Full Text:
- Authors: Chambers, Craig Brian
- Date: 2022-06
- Subjects: Stakeholder management South Africa Sundays River (Eastern Cape) , Stakeholder theory , Trust , Industrial priorities , Social capital (Sociology)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/419060 , vital:71612
- Description: Trust is an essential aspect in developing meaningful relationships between firms and their stakeholders. Mayer, Davis and Schoorman (1995, p.709) define trust as “the willingness of a party to be vulnerable to the actions of another party based on the expectation that the other party will perform a particular action important to the trustor irrespective of the ability to monitor or control that other party”. This study took the form of an explanatory case study that focussed on an interaction between a firm and a salient stakeholder and attempted to explain how this interaction influenced the perceived trustworthiness of the firm in stakeholders that were observing the interaction. The study attempted to add to the work of Crane (2020), whose research had focussed on stakeholder connectedness, and specifically how this could be utilized by firms interacting with stakeholders to engender trust in a wider group of stakeholders. The research aimed to evaluate how the Sterile Insect Release programme, operating by the firm in the Sunday’s River Valley, was given a second chance through engagement with a salient stakeholder and how the interaction was observed by a wider group of stakeholders leading to perceived stakeholder trustworthiness and social capital. The study had five objectives, namely to; (1) analyse how a firm’s ability, benevolence, and integrity enables (or does not engender) the development of the firm’s trustworthiness amongst its stakeholders; (2) analyse how the firm’s engagement with a salient stakeholder enables (or does not engender) increased levels of trustworthiness in the firm by the stakeholders that are observing its interaction with a salient stakeholder; (3) analyse the benefits of social capital gained through increased levels of stakeholder trust; (4) identify good practice guidelines for firm engagement with salient stakeholders to ensure the correct cues are portrayed to observing stakeholders for the development of the trustworthiness of the firm; and (5) make recommendations related to management practices that will support the development of trust. The research adopted a qualitative approach and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with three groups of stakeholders that were present at the meeting. A review of the literature was undertaken to identify various propositions for the research and from which a theory-driven coding memo was developed. The derived propositions were as follows: (1) observing a firm’s engagement with a single salient stakeholder will provide cues to observing stakeholders about the trustworthiness of the firm, and (2) perceptions of a firm’s trustworthiness will result in increased social capital between the firm and its stakeholders. The first proposition was divided into three sub-propositions for the study which stated; (a) observing a firm’s engagement with a single salient stakeholder will provide cues to observing stakeholders about the ability of the firm; (b) observing a firm’s engagement with a single salient stakeholder will provide cues to observing stakeholders about the benevolence of the firm; and (c) observing a firm’s engagement with a single salient stakeholder will provide cues to observing stakeholders about the integrity of the firm. From the literature analysis, various themes were identified which include, observed interactions, ability, benevolence, integrity, trustworthiness, and increased social capital. The research findings confirmed the propositions as being relevant to the case study. The findings confirmed that ability, benevolence, and integrity are key attributes in portraying trustworthiness when interacting with a salient stakeholder. All three attributes were noted by the interviewees as being important to observing stakeholders in the development of trust in a firm, although ability and integrity were found to be the dominant attributes in this case study. The findings did present some evidence that an increased level of perceived trustworthiness in the firm did positively influence the levels of social capital, however, this was not a common theme among all the interviewees. In the light of these findings, it is recommended that firms utilize stakeholder models to identify salient stakeholders that are influential within the markets in which they operate. The firm should actively pursue a strong relationship with these stakeholders, and further attempt to generate opportunities to interact with these stakeholders in a public forum where stakeholder connectedness could be utilized to develop perceived trust in the wider group of stakeholders. The firm should focus on open, honest, and transparent communication which are key aspects for portraying the attributes of ability, benevolence, and integrity. The study addresses a gap in the trust literature at a stakeholder level and therefore has contributed to the trust literature by addressing how the connectedness between stakeholders can lead to trust in a wider group of stakeholders by increasing efficiency during these interactions and utilizing situational circumstances to build social capital. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2023
- Full Text:
Exploring the entrepreneurial intention of students in one Higher Education Institution (HEI)
- Authors: Kenye-Duma, Ayanda Rachel
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship South Africa , Intention , Entrepreneurship Study and teaching (Higher) South Africa , Students Attitudes , Social entrepreneurship , Social capital (Sociology) , Unemployment South Africa , Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/284514 , vital:56070
- Description: This study was interpretive and qualitatively explored students' entrepreneurial intentions at Rhodes University. It was conducted to understand entrepreneurship among students. Understanding students' entrepreneurship is critical as entrepreneurship is touted as a reasonable response to alleviate the high unemployment in South Africa. The study explored how students became entrepreneurs (or how their entrepreneurship intentions were formed) and the factors that enhanced (enablers and barriers) and inhibited them. The significance of living with and after COVID-19, youth and graduate unemployment alleviation places entrepreneurship development by institutions of higher learning, governments and private sector in the centre of economic recovery. The establishment of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) in 2016, highlights the commitment of the South African government, for Higher Education Institutions (HEI) to engage more in entrepreneurship and do more research to understand how students become entrepreneurs and unravel the challenges. Understanding students' entrepreneurship intentions can facilitate a supportive environment for students entrepreneurship. With “very little research about student entrepreneurship at this university” being the guiding research problem, the aim was to gain insight into the entrepreneurship intention of university students by exploring factors that influence students to become entrepreneurs. The study employed Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour to explore the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in terms of the underlying attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. The students who participated in the study fell into three categories of entrepreneurial intention: (i) Intending to start a business, (ii) starting a business, and (ii) those who were already operating a business. All the participants, irrespective of their stage of entrepreneurial intention, demonstrated a positive attitude and self-efficacy. All participants showed self-efficacy by identifying barriers and taking positive steps to overcome them. The main barriers were access to funding, capital, training, business opportunities with the university and lack of interaction with established entrepreneurs. The results demonstrated the close interplay of attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control in students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Social recognition of entrepreneurship, social capital, education and role models contributed to positive attitudes, and social norms influenced students’ entrepreneurial intentions. A supportive environment was found to be critical for nurturing entrepreneurship intentions. The study recommends a supportive climate cultivated by Rhodes University to promote entrepreneurship. The supportive environment must include the elevation of entrepreneurship in prominent offices of the university, strengthening entrepreneurship societies and interactions with established entrepreneurs, and engagement with the private sector to contribute and promote entrepreneurship among students. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2022
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kenye-Duma, Ayanda Rachel
- Date: 2022-04-06
- Subjects: Entrepreneurship South Africa , Intention , Entrepreneurship Study and teaching (Higher) South Africa , Students Attitudes , Social entrepreneurship , Social capital (Sociology) , Unemployment South Africa , Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/284514 , vital:56070
- Description: This study was interpretive and qualitatively explored students' entrepreneurial intentions at Rhodes University. It was conducted to understand entrepreneurship among students. Understanding students' entrepreneurship is critical as entrepreneurship is touted as a reasonable response to alleviate the high unemployment in South Africa. The study explored how students became entrepreneurs (or how their entrepreneurship intentions were formed) and the factors that enhanced (enablers and barriers) and inhibited them. The significance of living with and after COVID-19, youth and graduate unemployment alleviation places entrepreneurship development by institutions of higher learning, governments and private sector in the centre of economic recovery. The establishment of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) in 2016, highlights the commitment of the South African government, for Higher Education Institutions (HEI) to engage more in entrepreneurship and do more research to understand how students become entrepreneurs and unravel the challenges. Understanding students' entrepreneurship intentions can facilitate a supportive environment for students entrepreneurship. With “very little research about student entrepreneurship at this university” being the guiding research problem, the aim was to gain insight into the entrepreneurship intention of university students by exploring factors that influence students to become entrepreneurs. The study employed Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour to explore the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in terms of the underlying attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control. The students who participated in the study fell into three categories of entrepreneurial intention: (i) Intending to start a business, (ii) starting a business, and (ii) those who were already operating a business. All the participants, irrespective of their stage of entrepreneurial intention, demonstrated a positive attitude and self-efficacy. All participants showed self-efficacy by identifying barriers and taking positive steps to overcome them. The main barriers were access to funding, capital, training, business opportunities with the university and lack of interaction with established entrepreneurs. The results demonstrated the close interplay of attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control in students’ entrepreneurial intentions. Social recognition of entrepreneurship, social capital, education and role models contributed to positive attitudes, and social norms influenced students’ entrepreneurial intentions. A supportive environment was found to be critical for nurturing entrepreneurship intentions. The study recommends a supportive climate cultivated by Rhodes University to promote entrepreneurship. The supportive environment must include the elevation of entrepreneurship in prominent offices of the university, strengthening entrepreneurship societies and interactions with established entrepreneurs, and engagement with the private sector to contribute and promote entrepreneurship among students. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Commerce, Rhodes Business School, 2022
- Full Text:
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