Beyond the fringe? South African social movements and the politics of redistribution

Collective action in support of the redistribution of wealth and power in South Africa was initially led by the trade union movement. But, as more labour-market entrants have failed to find work in the formal economy, unions' capacity to speak for the poor has declined. Scholars and activists have, therefore, come to see new social movements as a superior source of effective action for redistribution. Analysis reveals that the movements are not equipped to lead a redistributive coalition but that co-operation between unions and social movements, and a synergy between their approaches, is most likely to produce effective redistributive politics.