Cultural innovation, aspirations and success among smallholders in former homelands of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa: Theory and evidence
International Journal of Social Economics
ISSN: 0306-8293
Article publication date: 25 February 2020
Issue publication date: 6 March 2020
Abstract
Purpose
After unsuccessful attempts of South African governments to carry out a land reform that distributes farmland more justly, this study aims to undertake a stronger segmentation of potential beneficiaries for a better targeting of future reforms.
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical model has been developed along the axes of cultural innovation and aspirations that identifies the segment of current smallholders who would most likely relocate to become commercial farmers in the future. A survey among smallholders in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa confirms the approach.
Findings
A number of indicators can be identified, particularly for cultural innovation, that predict willingness to relocate to a region where commercial farms can be managed.
Originality/value
The importance of cultural innovation has been neglected both in theoretical frameworks and in practical concepts of land reform.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-05-2018-0226
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The financial assistance of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Swiss National Foundation (SNF) towards this research is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at are those of the researchers and are not to be attributed to the NRF and SNF. The authors would also like to thank enumerators, farmers who participated in the study and Dr. Jan C Greyling.
Citation
Zantsi, S., Mack, G. and Mann, S. (2020), "Cultural innovation, aspirations and success among smallholders in former homelands of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa: Theory and evidence", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 47 No. 3, pp. 404-422. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-05-2018-0226
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited