South Africa's Brave New World: The Beloved Country Since the End of Apartheid - Softcover

Johnson, R. W.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0713995386 ISBN 13: 9780713995381

Publisher: Allen Lane, 2009

Synopsis

The universal jubilation that greeted Nelson Mandela's inauguration as president of South Africa in 1994 and the process by which the nightmare of apartheid had been banished is one of the most thrilling, hopeful stories in the modern era: peaceful, rational change was possible and, as with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the weight of an oppressive history was suddenly lifted.

R.W. Johnson's major new book tells the story of South Africa from that magic period to the bitter disappointment of the present. As it turned out, it was not so easy for South Africa to shake off its past. The profound damage of apartheid meant there was not an adequate educated black middle class to run the new state and apartheid had done great psychological harm too, issues that no amount of goodwill could wish away. Equally damaging were the new leaders, many of whom had lived in exile or in prison for much of their adult lives and who tried to impose decrepit, Eastern Bloc political ideas on a world that had long moved on.

This disastrous combination has had a terrible impact - it poisoned everything from big business to education to energy utilities to AIDS policy to relations with Zimbabwe. At the heart of the book lies the ruinous figure of Thabo Mbeki, whose over-reaching ambitions led to catastrophic failure on almost every front. But, as Johnson makes clear, Mbeki may have contributed more than anyone else to bringing South Africa close to "failed state" status, but he had plenty of help.

About this title

Review:

'South Africa's Brave New World is both a tour de force and a tour de horizon of South Africa's uneven journey since 1994 and the ascent of the ANC to government. It is a tale, told with verve and in no-holds-barred style which lifts the lid on a range of topics which have been semi-buried by the miasma of political correctness which has engulfed the country since the advent of democracy. Parts of the tapestry which Johnson stitches with expertise and eloquence is variously inspirational, harrowing and even disturbing and shocking. The journey encompasses the pinnacles of high achievement and very often the precipices of low politics and skulduggery in high places. An essential contribution to South Africa's history-in-the-making.'
-- Tony Leon

'Johnson names names and spells out amounts ... there are landmines scattered throughout ... not a comfortable wrap up'
-- James Mitchell, The Star, South Africa

From the Back Cover:

PRAISE FOR R.W. JOHNSON'S SOUTH AFRICA: THE FIRST MAN, THE LAST NATION

'R. W. Johnson is a historian, but also a polemical journalist, and he writes with passion about the present. He provides a robustly liberal critique of the new South Africa' Economist

'Johnson shows his mastery of both the broad sweep and the complexities of history without bias' Anthony Sampson, Evening Standard

'The reach of this elegant, angry essay is astonishing ... it is Johnson's withering depiction of the new black government, 10 years in power, that provides the hardcore excitement ... absolutely essential reading' Christopher Hope, Sunday Times

'This is a well-written and necessary book which challenges the myths draping the rainbow nation' Justin Cartwright, Daily Telegraph

'A splendidly argumentative history, and great fun ... the argument rings loud and clear' Financial Times

About this edition

• Publisher: Allen Lane
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0713995386
• ISBN 13: 9780713995381
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 720