South African Society as a Social System

Abstract

Having completed our analysis of the historical background of South African society we turn to analyse the society in its present form as a social system. We shall discuss the theoretical approach to such a plural system and then analyse such plurality according to demographic, social, and linguistic characteristics. We shall then draw together this discussion by examining the general shape of the social structure in preparation for the next chapter in which we shall apply the framework developed in Part II directly to South Africa. We turn first, then, to a discussion of the plural character of this society.