Morning
in
South Africa
John Campbell
Rowman & Littlefield (June 2016)
This
incisive, deeply informed book introduces post-apartheid South Africa
to an international audience. For Westerners, South Africa’s past racism
and white supremacy echo their own. So, too, do the difficulties in
overcoming that crushing historical burden. Under
President Jacob Zuma, Africa is treading water. Nevertheless, despite
calls to undermine the 1994 political settlement characterized by human
rights guarantees and the rule of law, distinguished diplomat John
Campbell argues that the country’s future is bright
and that its democratic institutions will weather its current
lackluster governance.
The
book opens with an overview to orient readers to South Africa’s
historical inheritance. A look back at the presidential inaugurations of
Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma and Mandela’s
funeral illustrates some of the ways South Africa has indeed changed in
style since 1994. Reviewing current demographic trends, Campbell
highlights the persistent consequences of apartheid. He goes on to
consider education, health, and current political developments,
including land reform, with an eye on how South Africa’s democracy is
responding to associated thorny challenges. The book ends with an
assessment of why prospects are currently poor for closer South African
ties with the West. Campbell concludes, though,
that South Africa’s democracy has been surprisingly adaptable, and that
despite intractable problems, the black majority are no longer
strangers in their own country.
Features
v Assesses the strengths of democratic governance using the problem areas of education, health, and land reform.
v Explains
why closer political ties between the US and South Africa, both
multi- racial democracies based on the rule of law, are unlikely in
the near future.
v Ideal reading for visitors to South Africa, journalists, businesspeople, and policy makers.
John Campbell
is the Ralph Bunche Senior Fellow for Africa Policy Studies at the
Council on Foreign Relations
in New York. He entered the U.S. Foreign Service as a political officer
in 1975 and served at the American embassy in Pretoria/Cape Town from
1993 to 1996. His books include
Nigeria: Dancing on the Brink.
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