Class, Work and Whiteness: Race and Settler Colonialism in Southern Rhodesia, 1919-79

This book provides a comprehensive history of white workers in Zimbabwe from the end of the First World War to Zimbabwean independence in 1980, exploring their identity, experiences, and participation in the production of race and class.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2023
Publisher: Manchester University Press

This comprehensive book delves into the rich history of white workers from the aftermath of the First World War to Zimbabwean independence in 1980. It provides a detailed account of how white worker identity was shaped, explores the diverse composition of the white laboring class as a mixture of men and women from different ethnic and national backgrounds, and highlights the active involvement of white workers in the ongoing and contentious process of producing race. By examining the experiences of white wage laborers, both as exploited workers and as members of the privileged white minority, the book sheds light on the intricate interplay between race and class, revealing how they mutually reinforced and regulated one another within the context of settler colonialism.

Drawing upon original research conducted in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, this book offers a novel theoretical synthesis that integrates insights from gender studies, whiteness studies, labor histories, settler colonialism, Marxism, emotions, and the New African Economic History. It provides a fresh perspective on the complex dynamics of power, privilege, and resistance in the history of white workers and contributes to our understanding of the broader social and political landscapes of Southern Africa.

Overall, this book is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in exploring the complex and multifaceted history of white workers in Southern Africa. Its comprehensive approach, rich empirical evidence, and innovative theoretical framework make it an essential contribution to the field of history.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 233 x 157 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526167095