South Africa between neoliberalism and social democracy? Respecting balance while sharpening differences

The diverse, rich writings of Bill Freund are celebrated, justly, for insight, critical distance and engagement with society's most profound problems. That engagement, however, is open-ended, honest and provocative, hence inviting further debate. This paper considers Freund's perspectives on socialism and post-colonial class orientation; South African liberation winners and losers; the nature of the post-apartheid urban experience; international and regional processes; the role of the left intelligentsia; and the emerging community-based alternative to the ruling party and its alliance with workers and communities. In all of these areas, Freund's recent writing unveils creative tensions, often requiring rejoinders and rebuttals, as he charts a course of analysis that hovers between critique and endorsement, i.e. between an awareness of neoliberal problems and a desire for genuine social democratic solutions. From analysis to agency, Freund's reading of South Africa allows us to sharpen differences with his viewpoint and evidence, while also respecting his extraordinary balance.