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When we think of the twilight of the twentieth century we think of the spectacular collapse of communism, the famines in Africa, civil wars and genocides across the globe and inexorable dismantling of South Africa's segregated world. Apartheid was reduced to rubble through the courage of many martyrs and the pressure of world disapproval. This is the history of the final years of one of the worst contemporary regimes, showing the violent conflict between black and white and the clashes of personality between Botha, de Klerk and Mandela.
Professor Jack Spence looks at the most controversial issues associated with apartheid - the ambiguous figure of Nelson Mandela; the disastrous attempts at democracy in the 1990s and continuing persistent problems now; the issue of segregation itself versus apartheid; and the episodes thrown up by the commissions. A fascinating account of the final years of Apartheid, showing the violent conflict between black and white and the clashes of personality between Botha, de Klerk and Mandela. As well as a full treatment of all these issues, the book contains original interviews and first hand experiences.
List of contents
Prologue: The dramatis personae. Chapter 1: The rise of apartheid. Chapter 2: The decline of apartheid. Chapter 3: The decline and resurrection of black opposition. Chapter 4: Endgame. Chapter 5: Negotiations and the founding election. Chapter 6: South Africa and the world. Epilogue.
About the author
David Welsh was until 1997 Professor of Southern African Politics at the University of Cape Town, and is currently Professor Extraordinaire in the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University. He has published widely on South African issues, and on ethnicity and politics in other divided societies.
J. E. Spence, OBE currently teaches in the Department of War Studies at Kings College, London and is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the UK Defence Academy. He has taught at a number of universities in Britain and abroad and from 1973 to 1991 he was Head of the Department of Politics and Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of Leicester. He was also a Special Advisor to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee enquiry into South Africa (2003-4).
