Christopher McMichael

Christopher McMichael is a post-doctoral researcher at the Wits University School of Architecture and Urban Planning. His current research looks at state power, repression and class warfare.

Footsoldiers in a social war: the police, crime and inequality in South Africa

What does it mean to declare a 'war on crime' in one of the most unequal societies in the world? And how does contemporary police violence in South Africa serve to maintain the status quo of spatial and economic fragmentation?

By Christopher McMichael

/ 25 Oct 2013

Green Zone Nation: The South African government’s new growth path

Recent flirtations of the ANC with the Chinese model of economic development suggest that South African political elites fall for the erroneous fantasy that social tensions can be bought off with consumer goods

By Christopher McMichael

/ 19 Mar 2012

The shock-and-awe of mega sports events

How mega sporting events bring the logic of war to host-city governance. The example of the football World Cup in South Africa highlights how security for mega-events has become a self-reinforcing feedback loop between state and corporate sector, taking the analogy between Sport and War another st

By Christopher McMichael

/ 30 Jan 2012

The Cape Town model, state violence and military urbanism

The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants to present itself as South Africa's opposition-in-waiting, for the day when ANC domination withers. But look at Look at urbanisation policy in the Cape, controlled by the DA: behind the liberal rhetoric of the party lies an ideology very comfortable with increasi

By Christopher McMichael

/ 5 Jan 2012