Description

State Capitalisms in Southern Africa offers a groundbreaking reappraisal of Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe through the lens of evolving forms of state capitalism. From colonial charter companies to post-independence parastatals and financial institutions, this monograph traces how successive state-capital hybrids have shaped economic development, class formation, and corporate governance across the region. Challenging dominant narratives that center Western and Eastern models, the authors draw on historical institutionalist approaches to show how national contexts drive variation within seemingly similar economic forms. By mapping distinct eras of capitalism-merchant colonialism, import-substitution industrialization, neoliberalism, and militarized accumulation-this study reveals how African cases both enrich and complicate global debates on state capitalism. Engaging deeply with neglected African histories, this is a timely contribution to political economy literature that underscores the centrality of the state in shaping economic trajectories and governance systems in the Global South.