This book provides an innovative perspective on class dynamics in South Africa, focusing specifically on how different interests have shaped economic and trade policy. As an emerging market, South African political and economic actions are subject to the attention of international trade policy. Claar provides an in-depth class analysis of the contradictory negotiation processes that occurred between South Africa and the European Union on Economic-Partnership Agreements (EPA), examining the divergent roles played by the political and economic elite, and the working class. The author considers their relationships with the new global trade agenda, as well as their differing standpoints on the EPA.

Simone Claar is post-doc researcher at the Working Group Globalization & Politics at the University of Kassel and Senior Policy Advisor for Teacher Education at the German Education Union, Germany. Alongside a previous position as Researcher in the Department of Political Science at the University of Kassel, she worked as a Research Associate at Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany. Her research interests include capitalism, emerging markets, development and trade, class analysis and the postcolonial state.

Chapter 1. Introduction and Theoretical Focus.- Chapter 2. National Context: Contemporary South African Capitalism, the State and its policy.- Chapter 3. Transnational Context: International Trade Relations.- Chapter 4. South African Capitalist Classes: from Mining to Agriculture.- Chapter 5. South Africa's Political Elite and its Political Objectors.- Chapter 6. South Africa's Popular Classes.- Chapter 7. South Africa's Economic State Apparatuses.- Chapter 8. The EU-SADC EPA: Road Map and Conflicts (2006-2010).- Chapter 9. Class Fractions Perspectives on the Conflicting EPA Issues.- Chapter 10. Restart of the EU-SADC EPA Negotiation and its Outcome.- Chapter 11. Conclusion.