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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best combined sociology and politics,
By
This review is from: Anatomy of a Miracle (Hardcover)
There is a great deal of interest in the changing politics and different views of SA evident in movies such as 'Blood Diamonds', 'Invictus' and 'Color of Freedom'. This book is perhaps the best extension of these movies into a combined view of SA. The book does a great job of combining sociology and recent history. The author adds a wonderful writing style to extensive familiarity so as to provide human interest in a complex subject. Instead of the popular use of a 'quote de jour' Waldmeir inserts a relevant sample of her own journalism to introduce each chapter. It's a very effective device.While clearly expressing empathy with the justice of the black majority cause under Apartheid, Waldmeir does not whitewash Mandela and the ANC for responsibility of violence or failures in mitigating SA problems of poverty disease and violence. There is a very even handed treatment including failure of Codesa II negotiations. She points out how good the RSA record is relative to other African states like Zimbabwe and Zambia. Readers will no doubt engage in contrasting RSA and USA politics. Waldmeir credits Botha, DeKlerk and the Afrikaner administration for their courage in giving up power as she investigates the question of why. She creates great interest in the attempts to provide an equitable sharing of power as it covers political struggles among the NP, ANC and Inkatha parties. Although not exactly a treatise in government, the book makes one think about government structure by coverage of the new RSA government and constitution. Especially interesting are the negotiations that took place between the NP and ANC during the period between the release of Mandela in 1991 and the formation of the new government after the election of 1994. Negotiations included the idea of a 'tricameral' legislature. DeKlerk wanted a 'negative veto', a throwback to Calhoun's idea of 'nullification.' After rejection by Mandela, who termed it "loser takes all" that lead to the very interesting politics of today whereby the white minority is attempting the same thing by other means. Success or failure is still an open question. The best books are written in the spirit of inquiry without ideological bias and this is a good one. Too bad the book drifts out of date with time. Following Walmeir's journalism would be an excellent way of keeping up with changing conditions in SA sociology and politics. This is more informative than other recent books on SA which tend to focus on a mini biography and character analysis of Mandela.
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