Shauna Mottiar is Associate Professor of Development Studies – School of Social Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban where she serves as Director of the Centre for Civil Society. She holds a PhD in Political Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Her research areas include civil society, social protest and social movements. She has taught a number of Masters courses including: Civil Society & Development, Social Policy and Political Economy of the Welfare State. Among her most recent publications is the co-edited volume: Protest in South Africa: Rejection, Reassertion, Reclamation. Shauna is an NRF rated researcher and serves on the board of the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR). She is also currently a Visiting Fellow at the International Inequalities Institute (III) -London School of Economics (LSE).
- PhD (University of Witwatersrand)
- (1) Civil Society and Development (2) Social Policy (3) Political Economy of the Welfare State – Development Studies Masters Programme. She also supervises a number of MA and PhD Students.
Current research projects include:
- Co-Producing Knowledge: The Theory and Praxis of African Social Movements and Grassroots Activism. National Research Foundation (NRF) funded.
- Shrinking Spaces of Civil Society in South Africa? National Research Foundation (NRF) funded.
- Activism, Policy & Transformation. A collaboration with the International Inequalities Institute (III) – London School of Economics (LSE) comprising five country case studies: South Africa, Armenia, Chile, Lebanon, Egypt.
Books/Edited Volumes
Chapters in Books
Journal Articles
Monographs/ Reports
Reports
Other
Books/Edited Volumes
- Brooks, H, Chikane, R and Mottiar, S (eds). 2023. Protest in South Africa: Rejection, Reassertion, Reclamation. Johannesburg: Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA).
- Mottiar, S and Ngcoya, M (eds). (2016). Philanthropy in South Africa: Horizontality, ubuntu and social justice, Cape Town: HSRC Press.
Chapters in Books
- Mottiar, S. 2023. Steering or freeing civil society? Philanthropy towards social justice campaigns in South Africa during Covid-19, in Moyo, B. Qobo, M and Ngwenya, N. (eds). 2023. African philanthropy: Philanthropic responses to Covid-19 and development goals in Africa. Edward Elgar.
- Mottiar, S. 2023. Electricity contestations and infrastructural citizenship: Protest in Lamontville, Durban in Brooks, H. Chikane, R and Mottiar, S (eds). Protest in South Africa: Rejection, Reassertion, Reclamation. Johannesburg: Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA).
- Brooks, H, Chikane, R and Mottiar, S 2023. The architecture of protest in South Africa: Contexts and underpinnings in Brooks, H. Chikane, R and Mottiar, S (eds). Protest in South Africa: Rejection, Reassertion, Reclamation. Johannesburg: Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA).
Brooks, H, Mottiar, S and Chikane, R. 2023 Rejection, reassertion, reclamation: The underpinnings of protest in South Africa in Brooks, H. Chikane, R and Mottiar, S (eds). Protest in South Africa: Rejection, Reassertion, Reclamation. Johannesburg: Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA).
- Fowler, A and Mottiar, S. 2022.Connecting African civil society to its roots, in Biekart, K and Fowler, A. (eds). A research agenda for civil society. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
- Lodge, T and Mottiar, S. (2017). South Africa unrest: Protest or Rebellion? A focus on Durban, in Paret, M, Runciman, C and Sinwell, L. (eds). Southern resistance in critical perspective: The politics of protest in South Africa’s contentious democracy. Routledge.
- Mottiar, S and Ngcoya, M (2016). Indigenous philanthropy: Challenging
Western preconceptions, in Jung, T. Phillips, S. Harrow, J. (eds). The
Routledge companion to philanthropy. - Mottiar, S. (2012). Post-apartheid foundations and possibilities for social justice philanthropy. Giving: Thematic Issues on Philanthropy and Social Innovation, 2, 2011, (Bononia University Press), 9-24.
- Mottiar, S. (2012). Socio-economic rights and development: HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral service delivery in South Africa. In: Ige, S. Quinlan, T (eds). African responses to HIV/AIDS: Between speech and action. University of KwaZulu-Natal Press: Pietermaritzburg, 84-108.
- Ndinga Muvumba, A. Mottiar, S. (2007) HIV AIDS and the African renaissance: South Africa’s achilles heel, in Adebajo, A, (ed) South Africa in Africa, Pietermaritzburg: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.
- Friedman, S. and Mottiar, S. (2006) The TAC and politics of morality, in Ballard, R, Habib, A, Valodia, I, (eds) Voices of Protest; Social Movements in Post Apartheid South Africa, Pietermaritzburg: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.
- Mottiar, S. (2005). The Uganda Human Rights Commission: beyond protection and promotion of human rights. in Parleviliet, M, Lamb, G, Maloka, V, (eds), National Human Rights Institutions in Africa: Defenders of Human Rights, Cape Town: Managers of Conflict, Builders of Peace, University of Cape Town.
- Smith, L. Mottiar, S. White, F.(2005). Public money, private failure: testing the limits of market based solutions for water delivery in Nelspruit, in McDonald, D. Ruiters, G. (eds) The Age of Commodity: Water Privatization in South Africa, London: Cromwell Press.
Journal Articles
- Mottiar, S 2025. South Africa’s protest tactics: Evolution and expansion. Politikon, 52(2): 198-211.
- Mottiar, S and Motau, A. 2024. Fragmentation, Counter-Power and Symbiosis: The Life After Coal Campaign. Journal of Political Ecology Vol 31, 939-950.
- Mottiar, S and Magwaza, T. 2023. Protest in Mpofana, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Narratives and Strategies. African Identities DOI: 10.1080/14725843.2023.2207765.
- Mottiar, S. 2021. Shaping a Township: Self-Connecting as ‘Counter Conduct’ in Umlazi, Durban. Journal of the British Academy, 9 (11), 93-106.
- Shawa, B and Mottiar, S. 2020. South African Non-Governmental Development Organisations – organising and coordinating for development effectiveness: A case study of KwaZulu-Natal. African Renaissance, 17(3), 2020, 229-257.
- Mottiar, S and Dubula, V. 2020. Shifting consciousness and challenging power: Women activists and the provision of HIV/AIDS services. Law Democracy & Development, Vol 24, 2020, 158-176.
- Mottiar, S and Lodge, T. 2020. ‘Living inside the movement’: The Right2Know campaign, South Africa. Transformation, 102, 2020, 95-120.
- Mottiar, S. 2019. Everyday forms of resistance and claim making in Durban South Africa. Journal of Political Power, 12(2), 276-292.
- Bond, P and Mottiar, S. 2018. Terrains of Civil and Uncivil Society in Post-Apartheid Durban. Urban Forum: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-018-9351-6
- Mottiar, S and Lodge, T. (2018). The role of community health workers in supporting South Africa’s HIV/AIDS treatment programme. African Journal of AIDS Research, 17(1), 54-61.
- Mottiar, S and Lodge, T. (2017). The Treatment Action Campaign and the South African State, 2009-2016. Social Dynamics, 43(1), 103-117.
- Mottiar, S. (2015) The Democratic Alliance and the role of opposition parties in South Africa. Journal of African Elections, 14(1), 106-123.
- Lodge, T and Mottiar, S. (2015) Protest in South Africa: motives and meanings. Democratization, DOI: 10.1080/13510347.2015.1030397
- Mottiar, S. (2014) Protest and participation in Durban: A focus on Cato Manor, Merebank and Wentworth. Politikon, 41(3), 2014: 371-385
- Bond, P. and Mottiar, S. (2013) Social protest in South Africa. Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 31, 2, April. p. 283-302.
URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02589001.2013.789727#.UtJyNfQW3T8 - Mottiar, S. 2013. From ‘popcorn’ to ‘occupy’: Protest in Durban, South Africa. Development and Change, 44(3), 603-619.
- Mottiar, S and Bond, P. (2012). Discontent and social protest in Durban. Politikon, 39(3), 1-23. URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02589346.2012.746183?journalCode=cpsa20#.UtJzCvQW3T8
- Mottiar, S. Naidoo, O. Khumalo, D. (2011). Women’s organisations and the struggle for water and sanitation services in Chatsworth and Inanda, Durban: The Westcliff Flats Residents Association and the Didiyela Women’s Group.Agenda, 25, 2, 122-130.
- Mottiar, S. (2010). The role of civil society in elections: The KwaZulu-Natal Democracy and Elections Forum – Reducing conflict dynamics and promoting peace. Journal of African Elections, 9(1), 110-127.
- Friedman, S. Mottiar, S. (2005). A rewarding engagement? The Treatment Action Campaign and the politics of HIV/AIDS. Politics and Society, 33 (4), 511-565.
- Mottiar, S. (2004) The Turnover of power in KwaZulu-Natal: A growing commitment to and engagement with the democratic process. Journal of African Elections, 3 (2).
Monographs/ Reports
- Mottiar, S. (2014) Philanthropy and resource governance: Linking business practice with giving practice in the resource extractive industries. Research Paper, Southern Africa Trust, Philanthropy and Resource Governance Study.http://www.southernafricatrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Paper-One-Philanthropy-and-Resource-Governance.pdf
- Mottiar, S, Van Jaarsveld, S, (2009) Mediating peace in Africa: securing conflict prevention, Research Report African Union Mediation Initiative, African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes. Download from ACCORD
- Mottiar, S. White, F. (2003) Co-production as a form of service delivery: community policing in Alexandra Township, Research Report 101, Centre for Policy Studies.
- Smith, L. Mottiar, S. White, F. (2003) Testing the limits of market based solutions to the delivery of essential services: The Nelspruit water concession, Research Report 103, Centre for Policy Studies.
- Mottiar, S. George, S. (2003) Electrification of the rural poor: lessons from an interim concession. Research Report 104, Centre for Policy Studies.
Reports
- Mottiar, S. (2005) Elections and the electoral system in South Africa: beyond free and fair elections, Policy Brief 39, Centre for Policy Studies.
Other
- 2014. EISA Election Update South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal No 1-7
- 2009. EISA Election Update South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal No 1, 3, 4, 6, 8
- 2006. EISA Election Update South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal No 1, 2, 3
- 2004. EISA Election Update South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal No 1-10