Thabo Mbeki's world : the politics and ideology of the South African president

Author(s)

    • Jacobs, Sean
    • Calland, Richard

Bibliographic Information

Thabo Mbeki's world : the politics and ideology of the South African president

edited by Sean Jacobs and Richard Calland

University of Natal Press , Zed Books, 2002

  • : Natal Press
  • : Zed Books : hbk
  • : Zed Books : pbk

Available at  / 3 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

: Zed Books : hbk ISBN 9781842771785

Description

An impressive mythology-both positive and negative-envelops Thabo Mbeki, the South African president who succeeded Nelson Mandela in 1999. Key questions arise: Does he have an ideology? If so, what informs it, and how does it translate into practice? Has Mbeki, as president, managed to capture and articulate a clear vision, and a sense of collective values? Does he offer the leadership South Africa needs? For new democracies like South Africa, the defining role of leadership in shaping institutions and a political culture is more enduring and significant than in established political systems. This book draws on the formidable analytical capabilities of writers who offer critical perspectives of the globally dominant neo-liberal order, and Mbeki's place in that world. The result is a series of fascinating and provocative insights into the Mbeki presidency and its political character. The book firstly explores Thabo Mbeki from an ideological perspective. Is there a central strand of thinking that informs his politics and his policy-making? It is of great significance how Mbeki builds, fortifies and interacts with his core base and his most important constituencies, especially in and around the ANC-led ruling alliance. Secondly, it argues that it is important to understand Mbeki in order to grasp how the South African government operates post-1999. An impressive mythology envelops Thabo Mbeki, Nelson Mandela's successor to the South African presidency. But key questions arise: Does he have an ideology? If so, what informs it, and how does it translate into practice? Has Mbeki managed to capture and articulate a clear vision, and a sense of collective values? Does he offer the leadership South Africa needs? This book offers critical perspectives of the globally dominant neo-liberal order, and Mbeki's place in that world. The book first explores whether there is a central strand of thinking that informs Mbeki's politics and policy-making, and examines how Mbeki builds, fortifies and interacts with his core base and most important constituencies. Secondly, it argues that it is important to understand Mbeki in order to grasp how the South African government operates post-1999. The book provides a comprehensive study of Mbeki's leadership and its implications for South Africa's future. It assumes that Mbeki will remain the dominant political figure in South Africa until 2009 and that his presidency will permanently mould the destiny of South Africa's political system and culture.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Thabo Mbeki: Myth and Context - Sean Jacobs and Richard Calland Part 1: Ideology 1. Cry for the Beloved Country: The Post-apartheid denouement - John S. Saul 2. Thabo Mbeki and NEPAD: Breaking or Shining the Chains of Global Apartheid? - Patrick Bond 3. The Logic of Expediency: Post-apartheid Shifts in Macroeconomic Policy - Hein Marais 4. Does the Emperor Really have no Clothes?: Thabo Mbeki and Ideology - Sahra Ryklief 5. Thabo Mbeki, South Africa, and the Idea of an African Renaissance - Peter Vale and Sipho Maseko Part 2: Politics 6. Remaking the Presidency: The Tension Between Co-ordination and Centralisation - Farouk Chothia and Sean Jacobs 7. Thabo Mbeki and the South African Communist Party - Vishwas Satgar 8. From 'Madiba Magic' to Mbeki Logic': Mbeki and the ANC's Trade Union Allies - Sakhela Buhlungu 9. Down to Business, but Nothing to Show - William Mervin Gumede 10. State and Civil Society in Contemporary South Africa: Redefining the Rules of the Game - Krista Johnson 11. Mandela's Democracy - Andrew Nash Conclusion: Thabo Mbeki: Politics and Ideology - Sean Jacobs and Richard Calland
Volume

: Zed Books : pbk ISBN 9781842771792

Description

An impressive mythology-both positive and negative-envelops Thabo Mbeki, the South African president who succeeded Nelson Mandela in 1999. Key questions arise: Does he have an ideology? If so, what informs it, and how does it translate into practice? Has Mbeki, as president, managed to capture and articulate a clear vision, and a sense of collective values? Does he offer the leadership South Africa needs? For new democracies like South Africa, the defining role of leadership in shaping institutions and a political culture is more enduring and significant than in established political systems. This book draws on the formidable analytical capabilities of writers who offer critical perspectives of the globally dominant neo-liberal order, and Mbeki's place in that world. The result is a series of fascinating and provocative insights into the Mbeki presidency and its political character. The book firstly explores Thabo Mbeki from an ideological perspective. Is there a central strand of thinking that informs his politics and his policy-making? It is of great significance how Mbeki builds, fortifies and interacts with his core base and his most important constituencies, especially in and around the ANC-led ruling alliance. Secondly, it argues that it is important to understand Mbeki in order to grasp how the South African government operates post-1999. An impressive mythology envelops Thabo Mbeki, Nelson Mandela's successor to the South African presidency. But key questions arise: Does he have an ideology? If so, what informs it, and how does it translate into practice? Has Mbeki managed to capture and articulate a clear vision, and a sense of collective values? Does he offer the leadership South Africa needs? This book offers critical perspectives of the globally dominant neo-liberal order, and Mbeki's place in that world. The book first explores whether there is a central strand of thinking that informs Mbeki's politics and policy-making, and examines how Mbeki builds, fortifies and interacts with his core base and most important constituencies. Secondly, it argues that it is important to understand Mbeki in order to grasp how the South African government operates post-1999. The book provides a comprehensive study of Mbeki's leadership and its implications for South Africa's future. It assumes that Mbeki will remain the dominant political figure in South Africa until 2009 and that his presidency will permanently mould the destiny of South Africa's political system and culture.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Thabo Mbeki: Myth and Context - Sean Jacobs and Richard Calland Part 1: Ideology 1. Cry for the Beloved Country: The Post-apartheid denouement - John S. Saul 2. Thabo Mbeki and NEPAD: Breaking or Shining the Chains of Global Apartheid? - Patrick Bond 3. The Logic of Expediency: Post-apartheid Shifts in Macroeconomic Policy - Hein Marais 4. Does the Emperor Really have no Clothes?: Thabo Mbeki and Ideology - Sahra Ryklief 5. Thabo Mbeki, South Africa, and the Idea of an African Renaissance - Peter Vale and Sipho Maseko Part 2: Politics 6. Remaking the Presidency: The Tension Between Co-ordination and Centralisation - Farouk Chothia and Sean Jacobs 7. Thabo Mbeki and the South African Communist Party - Vishwas Satgar 8. From 'Madiba Magic' to Mbeki Logic': Mbeki and the ANC's Trade Union Allies - Sakhela Buhlungu 9. Down to Business, but Nothing to Show - William Mervin Gumede 10. State and Civil Society in Contemporary South Africa: Redefining the Rules of the Game - Krista Johnson 11. Mandela's Democracy - Andrew Nash Conclusion: Thabo Mbeki: Politics and Ideology - Sean Jacobs and Richard Calland
Volume

: Natal Press ISBN 9781869140175

Description

A mythology - both positive and negative - envelops Thabo Mbeki, the South African president who succeeded Nelson Mandela 1999. Key questions arise - Does he have an ideology? If so, what informs it, and how does it translate into practice?

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