Labor and Democracy in Namibia, 1971-1996

This text chronicles the origins and evolution of the history of Namibia's organized labour movement. It shows how, despite the structural limitations of the Namibian economy, a colonial legacy of repression and reform, and an authoritarian nationalist movement, trade unions did eventually emerge in Namibia, only to be largely demobilized after independence. It further explores the implications of this demobilization for the consolidation of democracy in Namibia.