Burawoy in Africa: The Influence of Southern Africa on the Sociology of Michael Burawoy

In this tribute, we take a different approach and explore the influence of Southern Africa on Burawoy’s sociology. The influence of Southern Africa on Burawoy began early in his career when he himself was just learning what it meant to be a sociologist and continued to influence him in different ways throughout his life. In an interview with Eddie Webster in Johannesburg, 21 October 2023, Burawoy observed: ‘My experiences in Southern Africa decisively shaped my sociology at a theoretical level, at a methodological level and at a substantive level. Throughout my career Southern Africa was one reference point for understanding other societies’.