Title: Ironic victory : liberalism in post-liberation South Africa /
Authors: Johnson, R. W.; Welsh, David, 1937-; Husemeyer, Libby.; Welsh, David, 1937-
Publisher: Oxford University Press,
Year: 1998
Subjects: Liberalism South Africa Congresses.; South Africa Politics and government; South Africa Politics and government; South Africa Politics and government Congresses.; South Africa Politics and government Congresses.
Abstract: "How has Liberalism faced the challenges of racism? Is there more than one kind of liberalism? And what does the future hold for liberalism in a country where its spoken principles are newly entrenched, but where its name is so contentious?" "Ironic victory collects nineteen essays on liberalism in South Africa written since 1994 by prominent individuals in South Africa and abroad. From diverse and often opposing perspectives, the essays cover notions of liberalism and the currency of the term, its status among South Africans, and its present and future usefulness as a way of understanding and approaching contemporary politics, education, affirmative action, the press, law, and the South African constitution."--Jacket.
Contents: Preface / Helen Suzman -- Introduction: The Liberal Inheritance / David Welsh -- 1. The new constitution: a triumph for liberalism? A positive view / John Dugard -- 2. The new constitution: a triumph for liberalism? Some doubts / Anthea Jeffery -- 3. Liberalism and politics / Patrick Laurence -- 4. Must contemporary South African liberals be Thatcherites? / Charles Simkins -- 5. The rule of law since 1994 / Anthea Jeffery -- 6. Liberal institutions under pressure: The universities / R.W. Johnson -- 7. Closer to home: student unrest and the welfare function / Charles van Onselen -- 8. Liberal institutions under pressure: The press / Ken Owen -- 9. The press since 1994 / Martin Williams -- 10. What role for the churches in the new South Africa? / Rachel Tingle -- 11. Freedom of education: a privilege or a right? / Monica Bot and Dee Wingate -- 12. Oppositions, difficulties, and tensions between liberalism and African thought / M.W. Makgoba -- 13. Why are there so few black liberals? / Themba Sono -- 14. The best of enemies? Black intellectuals and white liberals / R.W. Johnson -- 15. Affirmative action: is the light worth the candle? / Rachel C.C. Jafta -- 16. The holy cause that ends in tears / Denis Beckett -- 17. Liberalism, democracy, race relations, and the rising black middle class in South Africa / Lawrence Schlemmer -- 18. Liberalism and the future of South Africa's new democracy / R.W. Johnson.