The experiences of employees utilizing an employee assistance programme in a psychiatric hospital
- Authors: Zonke, Phindiwe Princess
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Employee assistance programs -- South Africa , Health services administration , Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10054 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018571
- Description: Employer’s assistance to employees experiencing personal problems originated in the 19th century. The term Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) was however formulated in the 1970’s in the United States and, initially, only focused on alcohol dependence rehabilitation. EAPs have since seen a paradigm shift in their focus as they now deal with the full range of problems experienced by employees such as family life or relationship issues, work related stresses, financial pressures, depression or anxiety, alcohol and drug abuse. The researcher observed that some employees in the psychiatric institution, where they are employed as both professionals and non-professionals, were experiencing personal problems and very little if anything was done to provide assistance to them. It also seemed as if very few of them made use of the voluntary EAP service made available by the institution. The fact that a number of employees have problems can have serious negative consequences in that it causes a high rate of absenteeism and the institution’s core business, which is to provide care to its users, is compromised. The researcher undertook this study because EAP services fall within the realm of institutional development. This study could therefore make an invaluable contribution to the transformation discourse which has been taking place in the South African health systems in general and psychiatric institutions in particular. The purpose of this research is to determine employees’ experience of utilizing an EAP in a psychiatric hospital. The researcher is personally interested in employees’ experiences of utilizing the EAP in order to provide recommendations that will assist and strengthen the policy/guidelines for the Eastern Cape Department of Health on the use of EAPs. The workplace has an obligation to provide EAP services to employees so as to help them meet their contractual obligations in a holistic and healthy manner. The research goals are to explore the experiences of employees who have utilized an EAP. The findings will be used to make recommendations regarding the utilization of the EAP policy/guidelines that are currently used to assist the employees. The research methodology will be qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and contextual. The research population and sampling for this study will consist of the employees who have made use of an EAP. Participants will be selected using a purposive sampling approach. Data gathering will be done using semi-structured interviews, at a venue convenient to the participants. Open-ended questions will be asked to enable participants to express their perceptions on the topic. The data will be analyzed using Tesch’s method of data analysis. The identified themes will be used to describe employees’ experience of utilizing an EAP. Trustworthiness will be ensured by using Guba’s model of trustworthiness. The ethical principles of beneficence, self-determination and justice will be ensured by asking for each participant’s consent, by not coercing individuals to participate in the study and by ensuring permission from the Department of Health and from the University’s research committee to conduct the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Zonke, Phindiwe Princess
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Employee assistance programs -- South Africa , Health services administration , Job stress
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10054 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018571
- Description: Employer’s assistance to employees experiencing personal problems originated in the 19th century. The term Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) was however formulated in the 1970’s in the United States and, initially, only focused on alcohol dependence rehabilitation. EAPs have since seen a paradigm shift in their focus as they now deal with the full range of problems experienced by employees such as family life or relationship issues, work related stresses, financial pressures, depression or anxiety, alcohol and drug abuse. The researcher observed that some employees in the psychiatric institution, where they are employed as both professionals and non-professionals, were experiencing personal problems and very little if anything was done to provide assistance to them. It also seemed as if very few of them made use of the voluntary EAP service made available by the institution. The fact that a number of employees have problems can have serious negative consequences in that it causes a high rate of absenteeism and the institution’s core business, which is to provide care to its users, is compromised. The researcher undertook this study because EAP services fall within the realm of institutional development. This study could therefore make an invaluable contribution to the transformation discourse which has been taking place in the South African health systems in general and psychiatric institutions in particular. The purpose of this research is to determine employees’ experience of utilizing an EAP in a psychiatric hospital. The researcher is personally interested in employees’ experiences of utilizing the EAP in order to provide recommendations that will assist and strengthen the policy/guidelines for the Eastern Cape Department of Health on the use of EAPs. The workplace has an obligation to provide EAP services to employees so as to help them meet their contractual obligations in a holistic and healthy manner. The research goals are to explore the experiences of employees who have utilized an EAP. The findings will be used to make recommendations regarding the utilization of the EAP policy/guidelines that are currently used to assist the employees. The research methodology will be qualitative, descriptive, exploratory and contextual. The research population and sampling for this study will consist of the employees who have made use of an EAP. Participants will be selected using a purposive sampling approach. Data gathering will be done using semi-structured interviews, at a venue convenient to the participants. Open-ended questions will be asked to enable participants to express their perceptions on the topic. The data will be analyzed using Tesch’s method of data analysis. The identified themes will be used to describe employees’ experience of utilizing an EAP. Trustworthiness will be ensured by using Guba’s model of trustworthiness. The ethical principles of beneficence, self-determination and justice will be ensured by asking for each participant’s consent, by not coercing individuals to participate in the study and by ensuring permission from the Department of Health and from the University’s research committee to conduct the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Redefining success : social justice and the ends of business
- Authors: Zorn, Gwendolyn Philippa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Success Social justice Success in business Social responsibility of business Business ethics Corporate profits
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2745 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012061
- Description: Success in business is for the most part defined in financial terms and, because of this, business operations are almost entirely, if not entirely, directed to this end. The principle behind this rationale has been informed by the thought that the best contribution businesses can make to social justice is to focus on the bottom line. By appealing to enlightened self-interest and the high premium people place on freedom, neoliberal economists like Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek argue that maximising profits is necessarily socially responsible. And, moreover, that not to pursue this end is socially irresponsible. Social responsibility is the ultimate justification that thinkers such as Friedman and Hayek appeal to when claiming that the business of business is to maximise profit. Yet this position is internally inconsistent. The position is ultimately justified by what is socially just but this means that in fact social justice, and not profit-making, ought to be the end of business. I shall argue that taking this commitment seriously involves rejecting the idea that the aim of business is to maximise profits. This is not to say that businesses should not make profits, rather it implies that this feature is not what ultimately makes them successful. The central contribution of this project is to resolve the contradictions embedded in the traditional approach to business by arguing that the primary aim of business is the promotion of social justice. To this end success in business needs to be redefined so that it reflects the achievement of its ultimate ends and not simply its instrumental means (profit) to the realisation of these aims. We ought then to revise our fundamental assumptions about the structures and policies that are necessary for business to achieve its real end of social justice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Zorn, Gwendolyn Philippa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Success Social justice Success in business Social responsibility of business Business ethics Corporate profits
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2745 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012061
- Description: Success in business is for the most part defined in financial terms and, because of this, business operations are almost entirely, if not entirely, directed to this end. The principle behind this rationale has been informed by the thought that the best contribution businesses can make to social justice is to focus on the bottom line. By appealing to enlightened self-interest and the high premium people place on freedom, neoliberal economists like Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek argue that maximising profits is necessarily socially responsible. And, moreover, that not to pursue this end is socially irresponsible. Social responsibility is the ultimate justification that thinkers such as Friedman and Hayek appeal to when claiming that the business of business is to maximise profit. Yet this position is internally inconsistent. The position is ultimately justified by what is socially just but this means that in fact social justice, and not profit-making, ought to be the end of business. I shall argue that taking this commitment seriously involves rejecting the idea that the aim of business is to maximise profits. This is not to say that businesses should not make profits, rather it implies that this feature is not what ultimately makes them successful. The central contribution of this project is to resolve the contradictions embedded in the traditional approach to business by arguing that the primary aim of business is the promotion of social justice. To this end success in business needs to be redefined so that it reflects the achievement of its ultimate ends and not simply its instrumental means (profit) to the realisation of these aims. We ought then to revise our fundamental assumptions about the structures and policies that are necessary for business to achieve its real end of social justice.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Female education breaks the cycle of poverty : a case study of Chikomba rural district, Zimbabwe
- Authors: Zulu, Lilly Tendai
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Women in development -- Zimbabwe , Women -- Education -- Zimbabwe , Rural women -- Employment -- Zimbabwe , Women in economic development -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9139 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018691
- Description: The research which forms the basis of this thesis describes rural women’s perceptions of how Camfed education and skills development programmes have improved their lives in the Chikomba rural district in Chivhu, Zimbabwe. The researcher was motivated to carry out this study mainly due to the fact that in most rural societies in Zimbabwe, women are found suffering from social, cultural and political biases in the traditional male dominated society of Zimbabwe. Compared to their male counterparts, women have limited access to educational and employment opportunities and also have less social and political power than men. Being heads of households, women have to carry out the full traditional roles with the added responsibility of household and production management. The purpose of this study was to inform those investing and interested in women’s education about whether, how and the conditions under which women’s education directly improves women’s own lives and decreases poverty in the family and society. Camfed is an organization that advocates for female education particularly in the marginalized and poor parts of the country where poverty remains a barrier to girl’s education. It provides financial resources and establishes innovative education and training programs in order to break the poverty cycle in rural communities and empower women. A quantitative approach was employed in this study using a descriptive survey design, with the emphasis on collecting primary data from the research participants as well as consulting secondary data sources such as books, academic journals, completed and unpublished post-graduate research dissertations and theses. Findings of this study revealed that financial constraints, early marriage, proximity to school, death of parents as well as domestic chores were factors identified by the women that prevented them from completing school and pursuing further studies. The women also describe their perceptions of how education has led to better opportunities and an improved standard of living as they can now afford the basic goods and services. Moreover the participants mentioned how education has provided them with the basic skills to pursue a livelihood which will enable them to enjoy a decent standard of living. The research also found that education is an important determinant of women’s decision making in terms of finances and thereby improves their sense of empowerment. The women talked extensively about how education has raised their self-esteem and how it has enhanced their economic and social independence. At the end of the study and using the acquired information, several recommendations are made for the expansion and increase of programmes that offer incentives to keep girls in school, especially at secondary level where returns for girls are substantially greater in-terms of reducing poverty and improving the wellbeing of individuals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Zulu, Lilly Tendai
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Women in development -- Zimbabwe , Women -- Education -- Zimbabwe , Rural women -- Employment -- Zimbabwe , Women in economic development -- Zimbabwe
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9139 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018691
- Description: The research which forms the basis of this thesis describes rural women’s perceptions of how Camfed education and skills development programmes have improved their lives in the Chikomba rural district in Chivhu, Zimbabwe. The researcher was motivated to carry out this study mainly due to the fact that in most rural societies in Zimbabwe, women are found suffering from social, cultural and political biases in the traditional male dominated society of Zimbabwe. Compared to their male counterparts, women have limited access to educational and employment opportunities and also have less social and political power than men. Being heads of households, women have to carry out the full traditional roles with the added responsibility of household and production management. The purpose of this study was to inform those investing and interested in women’s education about whether, how and the conditions under which women’s education directly improves women’s own lives and decreases poverty in the family and society. Camfed is an organization that advocates for female education particularly in the marginalized and poor parts of the country where poverty remains a barrier to girl’s education. It provides financial resources and establishes innovative education and training programs in order to break the poverty cycle in rural communities and empower women. A quantitative approach was employed in this study using a descriptive survey design, with the emphasis on collecting primary data from the research participants as well as consulting secondary data sources such as books, academic journals, completed and unpublished post-graduate research dissertations and theses. Findings of this study revealed that financial constraints, early marriage, proximity to school, death of parents as well as domestic chores were factors identified by the women that prevented them from completing school and pursuing further studies. The women also describe their perceptions of how education has led to better opportunities and an improved standard of living as they can now afford the basic goods and services. Moreover the participants mentioned how education has provided them with the basic skills to pursue a livelihood which will enable them to enjoy a decent standard of living. The research also found that education is an important determinant of women’s decision making in terms of finances and thereby improves their sense of empowerment. The women talked extensively about how education has raised their self-esteem and how it has enhanced their economic and social independence. At the end of the study and using the acquired information, several recommendations are made for the expansion and increase of programmes that offer incentives to keep girls in school, especially at secondary level where returns for girls are substantially greater in-terms of reducing poverty and improving the wellbeing of individuals.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Analysis of the pre- to post- apartheid language in education policies: an investigation for multilingualism
- Authors: Zumani, Nobesutu Faith
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Multilingual education -- South Africa , Native language and education -- South Africa Language policy -- South Africa African languages -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44235 , vital:37140
- Description: The 1997 language policy in basic education promotes multilingualism in basic, education where there is under-utilisation of African languages. The main aim of this study is to investigate the reason for the under-utilisation of African languages in basic education. Transitional bilingual education is practised (TBE) instead of developmental maintenance bilingual education (MBE). The pre and post-apartheid language- in-education policies, including the Constitution, were collected, analysed and interpreted to find out why these languages are not used for education. It was discovered that the legacy of the previous policies has had an influence on the present policy. Also, the escape clauses on the present policy, such as “practicably reasonable,” and “choose,” have an impact on non-implementation of the post-apartheid language policy. The researcher recommends the development of an implementation plan and the revision of powers for SGBs to choose languages for their schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Zumani, Nobesutu Faith
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Multilingual education -- South Africa , Native language and education -- South Africa Language policy -- South Africa African languages -- Social aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/44235 , vital:37140
- Description: The 1997 language policy in basic education promotes multilingualism in basic, education where there is under-utilisation of African languages. The main aim of this study is to investigate the reason for the under-utilisation of African languages in basic education. Transitional bilingual education is practised (TBE) instead of developmental maintenance bilingual education (MBE). The pre and post-apartheid language- in-education policies, including the Constitution, were collected, analysed and interpreted to find out why these languages are not used for education. It was discovered that the legacy of the previous policies has had an influence on the present policy. Also, the escape clauses on the present policy, such as “practicably reasonable,” and “choose,” have an impact on non-implementation of the post-apartheid language policy. The researcher recommends the development of an implementation plan and the revision of powers for SGBs to choose languages for their schools.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
An impact assessment of the poverty alleviation projects: a case study of Thuthukani project in Dannhauser local municipality, Kwazulu Natal
- Authors: Zungu, Nomsa
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9079 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008583 , Poverty -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Description: The South African government has introduced mechanisms and plans to alleviate poverty and to monitor and evaluate the impact of the policies and programmes to the reduction of poverty. In its quest to eradicate and alleviate poverty, the government has prioritized poverty alleviation in its development agenda. In efforts to fight poverty, the government has since 1994, implemented various programmes that are aimed at alleviating poverty through stimulating employment, developing skills and improving service delivery. The poverty alleviation programme is one of the strategies that was implemented by the government, as a means to eradicate poverty. At the community level, depending on the nature of the programme, efforts have been made to incorporate mechanisms which enable poor people to play an active role in deciding how the benefits from programmes are distributed. The study was based on the projects identified by the community of Amajuba district in Dannhauser area in KwaZulu Natal. The Dannhauser Municipality in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Environmental affairs have played a vital role in this regard by supporting the establishment of the Thuthukani project in 2004. In an attempt to assess the impact of the poverty alleviation projects, this study investigated the role played by the Thuthukani project in local economic development of the Dannhauser community in the Dannhauser Municipality. Participants included the Thuthukani project members, and the extension officer from the Department of Agriculture and Environmental affairs. The study found that, indeed poverty alleviation projects play a role in local economic development since they contribute towards job creation and improvement of the socio-economic status of the local community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Zungu, Nomsa
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Poverty -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9079 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008583 , Poverty -- South Africa -- KwaZulu-Natal
- Description: The South African government has introduced mechanisms and plans to alleviate poverty and to monitor and evaluate the impact of the policies and programmes to the reduction of poverty. In its quest to eradicate and alleviate poverty, the government has prioritized poverty alleviation in its development agenda. In efforts to fight poverty, the government has since 1994, implemented various programmes that are aimed at alleviating poverty through stimulating employment, developing skills and improving service delivery. The poverty alleviation programme is one of the strategies that was implemented by the government, as a means to eradicate poverty. At the community level, depending on the nature of the programme, efforts have been made to incorporate mechanisms which enable poor people to play an active role in deciding how the benefits from programmes are distributed. The study was based on the projects identified by the community of Amajuba district in Dannhauser area in KwaZulu Natal. The Dannhauser Municipality in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Environmental affairs have played a vital role in this regard by supporting the establishment of the Thuthukani project in 2004. In an attempt to assess the impact of the poverty alleviation projects, this study investigated the role played by the Thuthukani project in local economic development of the Dannhauser community in the Dannhauser Municipality. Participants included the Thuthukani project members, and the extension officer from the Department of Agriculture and Environmental affairs. The study found that, indeed poverty alleviation projects play a role in local economic development since they contribute towards job creation and improvement of the socio-economic status of the local community.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
An analysis of the factors influencing the provision of water in the Buffalo City Municipality, province of the Eastern Cape
- Zwelibanzi, Mantombi Elizabeth
- Authors: Zwelibanzi, Mantombi Elizabeth
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Water-supply -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8260 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013011
- Description: Factors affecting the provision of water constitute a great challenge to water officials not only in Buffalo City Municipality but also globally. Interviews form the basic data collection instrument used to provide empirical evidence to the objectives of the study. The objectives of the study are: To evaluate the underlying challenges encountered by water sector Engineers; To evaluate the role of municipal water sector officials in the provision of clean water; To analyse the factors influencing the provision of water in Buffllo City Municipality. Recommendations are provided which could assist Buffalo City Municipality in addressing the challenges affecting the provision of water as follows: The involvement of national and provincial governments in order to improve the Buffalo City Municipal infrastructure and capacity building is highly recommended. Power failure and water interruptions caused by mechanical problems and natural disasters, are further municipal challenges that need to be addressed irrespective of financial constraints. Public and private sector sponsors can be approached to join the initiative. Informal settlements should be formalised and limited to a certain number of people per site or household, depending on the infrastructure. If the infrastructure is not conducive they should be relocated elsewhere. Public and private sector sponsors should offer assistance to Buffalo City Municipality to develop the required water skills, by financing water officials who are interested in furthering their education at tertiary level. Public consultation, through meetings and public forums, and public participation, by the street committees and police forums, are recommended. Coupon systems for basic services like water and electricity for all residents is highly recommended. A generator for the municipal water sector is needed. This will overcome the power failure problem. The provision of water is affected by power outages as water equipment needs electricity to be able to operate. Installation of a water plant in Buffalo City Municipality‟s main dam, the Maden dam, that is supposed to supply King Williams town and the surrounding areas directly.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Zwelibanzi, Mantombi Elizabeth
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Water-supply -- South Africa -- Buffalo City , Municipal services -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:8260 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013011
- Description: Factors affecting the provision of water constitute a great challenge to water officials not only in Buffalo City Municipality but also globally. Interviews form the basic data collection instrument used to provide empirical evidence to the objectives of the study. The objectives of the study are: To evaluate the underlying challenges encountered by water sector Engineers; To evaluate the role of municipal water sector officials in the provision of clean water; To analyse the factors influencing the provision of water in Buffllo City Municipality. Recommendations are provided which could assist Buffalo City Municipality in addressing the challenges affecting the provision of water as follows: The involvement of national and provincial governments in order to improve the Buffalo City Municipal infrastructure and capacity building is highly recommended. Power failure and water interruptions caused by mechanical problems and natural disasters, are further municipal challenges that need to be addressed irrespective of financial constraints. Public and private sector sponsors can be approached to join the initiative. Informal settlements should be formalised and limited to a certain number of people per site or household, depending on the infrastructure. If the infrastructure is not conducive they should be relocated elsewhere. Public and private sector sponsors should offer assistance to Buffalo City Municipality to develop the required water skills, by financing water officials who are interested in furthering their education at tertiary level. Public consultation, through meetings and public forums, and public participation, by the street committees and police forums, are recommended. Coupon systems for basic services like water and electricity for all residents is highly recommended. A generator for the municipal water sector is needed. This will overcome the power failure problem. The provision of water is affected by power outages as water equipment needs electricity to be able to operate. Installation of a water plant in Buffalo City Municipality‟s main dam, the Maden dam, that is supposed to supply King Williams town and the surrounding areas directly.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
Retailers’ food waste management: challenges and potential for action in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Đào, Thị Anh Thư
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food industry and trade -- Waste minimization , Food industry and trade -- Waste disposal Refuse and refuse disposal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39359 , vital:35220
- Description: Food waste management within retailers is seen as an important solution to assist retailers in effectively managing food waste, and by doing so improving food security while limiting negative ecological consequences. Given the lack of research attention focusing on the importance of managing food waste among South African food retailers, and in particular the Eastern Cape, the primary objective of this research was to investigate retailers‟ food waste management in Port Elizabeth. Primary data was collected by conducting interviews with representatives of Port-Elizabeth-based participating stores and their individual Head Offices. This treatise reports on the findings and the conclusions drawn.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Đào, Thị Anh Thư
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Food industry and trade -- Waste minimization , Food industry and trade -- Waste disposal Refuse and refuse disposal
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/39359 , vital:35220
- Description: Food waste management within retailers is seen as an important solution to assist retailers in effectively managing food waste, and by doing so improving food security while limiting negative ecological consequences. Given the lack of research attention focusing on the importance of managing food waste among South African food retailers, and in particular the Eastern Cape, the primary objective of this research was to investigate retailers‟ food waste management in Port Elizabeth. Primary data was collected by conducting interviews with representatives of Port-Elizabeth-based participating stores and their individual Head Offices. This treatise reports on the findings and the conclusions drawn.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The evolution of a security community through a process of integration: problems and prospects for the SADC region
- Authors: Šebek, Vita
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Political stability -- Africa, Southern , Southern African Development Community , National security -- Africa, Southern , Africa, Southern -- Economic integration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2831 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003041
- Description: This thesis examines the security problematic of African states and focuses more particularly on the SADC region. It links the security problematic with the transactionalist approach to (supra)national integration and the concept of a security community, introduced into internatIonal relations theory by Karl Deutsch and his colleagues. In relation to the (in)security of SADC member states, the thesis attempts to demonstrate that national integration of these states (i.e. the establishment of an amalgamated security community) has at least to accompany if not precede the establishment of a security community at the regional level (i.e. a pluralistic security community). Since threats to the security of SADC member states are mainly nonmilitary in nature, the 'realist' concept of security is broadened to include political, economic, societal and environmental aspects of security at different levels. Furthermore, Deutsch's concept of a security community is redefined in line with the 'new security thinking' and adapted to the situation in African states. Moreover, this thesis attempts to demonstrate that it is essential for SADC member states to become strong and socio-economically cohesive in order to improve their competitiveness in relation to developed states, especially in their ability to deal with internal and ransnational/regional threats to their security, which are (in)directly caused and perpetuated by the lack of national integration, inefficient state-making and underdevelopment - the sources of their weakness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
- Authors: Šebek, Vita
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: Political stability -- Africa, Southern , Southern African Development Community , National security -- Africa, Southern , Africa, Southern -- Economic integration
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2831 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003041
- Description: This thesis examines the security problematic of African states and focuses more particularly on the SADC region. It links the security problematic with the transactionalist approach to (supra)national integration and the concept of a security community, introduced into internatIonal relations theory by Karl Deutsch and his colleagues. In relation to the (in)security of SADC member states, the thesis attempts to demonstrate that national integration of these states (i.e. the establishment of an amalgamated security community) has at least to accompany if not precede the establishment of a security community at the regional level (i.e. a pluralistic security community). Since threats to the security of SADC member states are mainly nonmilitary in nature, the 'realist' concept of security is broadened to include political, economic, societal and environmental aspects of security at different levels. Furthermore, Deutsch's concept of a security community is redefined in line with the 'new security thinking' and adapted to the situation in African states. Moreover, this thesis attempts to demonstrate that it is essential for SADC member states to become strong and socio-economically cohesive in order to improve their competitiveness in relation to developed states, especially in their ability to deal with internal and ransnational/regional threats to their security, which are (in)directly caused and perpetuated by the lack of national integration, inefficient state-making and underdevelopment - the sources of their weakness.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002