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Feesmustfall Movement As a Counter- Hegemonic Force?

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Feesmustfall Movement As a Counter- Hegemonic Force? State and Civil Society: #FeesMustFall Movement as a Counter- Hegemonic Force? A Case of the University of the Western Cape Experience Lindokuhle Mandyoli Supervisor: Dr. Fiona Anciano Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Department of Political Studies Economic and Management Sciences University of the Western Cape 2019 1 https://etd.uwc.ac.za DECLARATION I declare that this mini thesis has been developed solely by myself and that it has not been submitted, in whole or in part, in any previous application for a degree. Except where expressly stated otherwise by reference or acknowledgement, the work presented is entirely my own. Location: University of the Western Cape, South Africa Date: 16th August 2018 Signature: ………………………………….. 2 https://etd.uwc.ac.za ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study would not have been possible without the various support structures I have in my life, and here I wish to acknowledge them. Firstly, I honour uQamata for guidance and strength throughout my academic career. Secondly, I appreciate my family, my Mother (Yandiswa Mpushe) and late Grandmother (Nomsa “Sasa” Mpushe), in particular for the constant belief and support throughout my education. I would also like to acknowledge my partner, Zamantungwa Khumalo, for the love, patience, support and belief she has shown me. I love you, and this would not be possible without you. Also, I would like to acknowledge my academic supervisor, Dr. Anciano, I honestly could not ask for a better supervisor; rigorous, honest and forever interested in my development, thank you Doc. I would like to acknowledge my friends, whose passion for education is unwavering and kept me invigorated throughout this study – We Are Indeed the Future. To the ‘reading group’ – Conrad and Mr. H, thank you for the commitment to development and never getting tired of asking WHY. Finally, to my one year old daughter, KwafikaOkuhle, I say to you – my life – this all makes sense because of you. Thank you for a renewed energy of love, tenacity and courage in my life – it kept me going even when I did not feel like it any longer. 3 https://etd.uwc.ac.za KEYWORDS FEES MUST FALL HIGHER EDUCATION DECOLONIZATION HEGEMONY COUNTER HEGEMONY UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE FREE EDUCATION CONSENT COERCION 4 https://etd.uwc.ac.za ACCRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ANC African National Congress #FMF #FeesMustFall EFF Economic Freedom Fighters NSFAS National Student Financial Aid Scheme UWC University of the Western Cape CPUT Cape Peninsula University of Technology SRC Students’ Representative Council SCM Student Credit Management DA Democratic Alliance PASMA Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania SASCO South African Students Congress EFFsc Economic Freedom Fighters Student Command DASO Democratic Alliance Student Organization #RMF #RhodesMustFall 5 https://etd.uwc.ac.za Table of Contents DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................ 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................ 3 KEYWORDS .................................................................................................................................. 4 ACCRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER 1 – Understanding #FeesMustFall ........................................................... 12 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 12 1.2 Background ......................................................................................................................... 13 1.2.1 #FeesMustFall – Locating the Case.............................................................................. 15 1.2.2 Post-apartheid State – Civil Society relations in Context ............................................. 17 1.3 Research Problem and Rationale......................................................................................... 18 1.4 Structure of Mini Theses ..................................................................................................... 23 CHAPTER 2 - Situating the Study ....................................................................... 25 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 25 2.2 Why Higher Education ........................................................................................................ 26 2.3 Locating the Student Movement ......................................................................................... 31 2.3.1 Student Movements, Protest Repertoires and Response Repertoires ........................... 31 2.5 The Rise of #FeesMustFall ................................................................................................. 36 CHAPTER 3 – A Framework for Analysis ......................................................... 41 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 41 6 https://etd.uwc.ac.za 3.2 The Logic of the State ......................................................................................................... 42 3.3 Civil Society ........................................................................................................................ 48 3.3.1 Gramsci on Civil Society .............................................................................................. 48 3.3.2 South African Civil Society .......................................................................................... 50 3.4 Gramsci’s Theory of Hegemony ......................................................................................... 51 3.4.1 Hegemony and Counter – Hegemony .......................................................................... 52 3.4.2 Consent and Coercion ................................................................................................... 54 3.5 The Althuserian Angle ........................................................................................................ 55 3.5.1 Althusser: Ideological State Apparatuses (ISA) vs. Repressive State Apparatuses (RSA) ............................................................................................................................................... 55 3.5.2 The Golden Thread ....................................................................................................... 57 Chapter 4 – Research Design & Methodology ............................................................ 61 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 61 4.2 Research Design .................................................................................................................. 62 4.2.1 Case Study Research .................................................................................................... 62 4.3 Data Collection& Data Sources .......................................................................................... 64 4.3.1 Auto-ethnography ................................................................................................... 64 4.3.2 Interviews ................................................................................................................ 68 4.3.3 Triangulation ........................................................................................................... 69 4.4 Desktop Study ..................................................................................................................... 71 7 https://etd.uwc.ac.za 4.5 Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 72 4.5.1 Access to Desired Respondents .................................................................................... 73 4.6 Ethical Considerations......................................................................................................... 74 4.7 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 76 Chapter 5 – A Closer Look at UWC #FMF ................................................................. 78 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 78 5.2.1 Origins of the Movement .............................................................................................. 79 5.2.2 The UWC Chapter of #FMF ......................................................................................... 82 5.2.3 The Road to a Common Goal ....................................................................................... 87 5.2.4 Chaos at Robert Sobukwe Road ................................................................................... 92 5.2.5 The Long Walk to the Cape Town International Airport ............................................. 95 5.2.6 The UWC Stadium ....................................................................................................... 98 5.2.7 11 November 2015: A Fateful Moment ..................................................................... 101 Chapter 6 – The Relationship between the Theory
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