'Sunny Places for Shady Characters'

South Africa’s industrial revolution occurred in a Calvinist-dominated and labour-repressive state linked via a strategic corridor to a Catholic regime in Mozambique that was markedly less morally repressive. Third parties used these disparities in state power to exploit the legitimate or illegitimate demand for certain products or services for private or public financial gain. The resulting patterns of social control and collective work class behaviour are best understood as liminal phenomena operating from within this Calvinist-Catholic nexus. By exploring the historical links between Johannesburg and Lourenço Marques, the rise and decline of the trade in alcohol and opium or the provision of outlets for gambling and prostitution can be traced in ways that help illuminate the dark underside of Southern Africa’s industrial revolution in new ways.

'Sunny Places for Shady Characters'. The Making of Work Class Cultures in Southern Africa's Mining Revolution, c.1886-1914

Charles van Onselen

May 10, 2016

Related Talking Point

Insightful expert lecture on southern African history presented at UP

Other Related Research

Story

Fancy a cuppa? UP study finds tea to be as antioxidant-rich as fruit and veg

University of Pretoria (UP) researchers have found that the antioxidant content of certain types of tea can be likened to that found in recommended portions of fruit and vegetables.
Infographic

To tea or not to tea? Spilling the tea on antioxidants

Half a cup of black tea, oolong tea or green tea contained the same amount of antioxidants with radical scavenging capabilities (RSC) as that of a 200mg vitamin C tablet.
Story

UP scientists home in on gene that could play pivotal role in diet-induced obesity

Researchers at the University of Pretoria (UP) may have identified the gene that is responsible for diet-related obesity. By exploring the role of the novel gene Slc7a8, they have made a potential breakthrough in current knowledge about the cellular mechanisms that drive fat accumulation. This understanding is crucial in developing effective treatments.