From Duty, to Torture, to the Highest Bidder: Habitus and the Evolution of South Africa's Security Forces Open Access

Abstract

South Africa's security apparatus was a full and active force in the story of apartheid. Mid-ranking Afrikaner police officers and soldiers had surprising amounts of influence on their respective institutions. As the forces on the ground during unrest in the townships and in guerrilla fights abroad, these mid-ranking officers' daily experiences shaped the reality of South African national security policies. An examination of the formative cultural and experiential factors, or habitus, that shaped the security forces can explain both the actions of the security forces during apartheid, and also the ascendancy of the private security industry in present-day South Africa. The influence of the private security sector today is a testament to the habitus developed amongst the security forces. This habitus had great impact upon the story of apartheid. Its legacy is continued in the proliferation of private security companies, which maintain many of the dividing facets of South African society. The provision of private security services link South Africa's security sector to its apartheid past, and prove that the legacy of apartheid security forces reverberates in modern South Africa.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction -Page 1

Chapter 1: National Politics and the Security Forces- Page 9

Chapter 2: Habitus and the Security Forces- Page 27

Chapter 3: Private Security After 'The Miracle'- Page 55

Conclusion- Page 83

Bibliography- Page 87

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	History
Degree	BA
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	History, African
Keyword	South Africa Apartheid Private Military Company South African Police
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Crais, Clifton C, Emory University
Committee Members	Payne, Matthew, Emory University Cherribi, Sam, Emory University

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