To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa by Xolela Mangcu
R85.00
The State of Democracy in South Africa – An incisive examination of South Africa’s democracy under Thabo Mbeki. Xolela Mangcu explores ANC politics, corruption, racial identity, political leadership and the challenges facing the country’s post-apartheid democratic development.
Author
Xolela Mangcu
Publish Date
2008
Cover Type
Paperback
Condition
Very Good
Light surface and shelf wear to the glossy covers, with minor discolouration to the page edges. No significant external defects.
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Book Description
To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa by Xolela Mangcu is a compelling and thought-provoking examination of South Africa’s political landscape, democratic development and the challenges facing the country in the years following the end of apartheid. Published in 2008 by the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, this important work of political commentary provides a critical perspective on the presidency of Thabo Mbeki, the African National Congress (ANC) and the increasingly complex relationship between political power, democracy and social transformation.
Xolela Mangcu, a prominent South African sociologist, political analyst, author and public intellectual, examines the tensions and contradictions that emerged as South Africa attempted to consolidate its young democracy. Through his incisive observations, Mangcu explores the extent to which the democratic ideals of the liberation struggle have been translated into meaningful political accountability, social justice and freedom of expression.
Central to To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa is an examination of political leadership under Thabo Mbeki and the growing divisions within the ANC. Mangcu considers the dangers of political intolerance, the concentration of power, the marginalisation of independent voices and the consequences of placing loyalty to political organisations above the principles of democratic accountability.
The author also engages with some of the most controversial political and social questions of the period, including South Africa’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the political and humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe, racial identity, corruption and the challenges of economic and social inequality.
To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa also highlights the importance of intellectual independence and critical debate in maintaining a functioning democracy. Mangcu challenges the assumption that criticism of the governing party necessarily represents opposition to the broader liberation movement, arguing instead that rigorous public scrutiny is essential to protecting the democratic achievements of 1994.
Written during a particularly turbulent period in South African political history, To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa provides valuable insight into the political climate preceding the end of Thabo Mbeki’s presidency. Its examination of leadership struggles, democratic institutions and the responsibilities of political parties offers an important contemporary perspective on a formative chapter in South Africa’s post-apartheid history.
Condition – Very Good
Light surface and shelf wear to the glossy covers, with minor discolouration to the page edges. No significant external defects apparent.
What an amazing shop. And for an indecisive shopper, Robert Cronje’s service selling a book set online that I’d seen in the shop when on holiday and not bought was simply impressive. The book set was wrapped so well it arrived via courier without damage.
Another collector (Fynn Lee) had warned us in advance to prepare a lot of time to browse this massive collection, and he was right! The size of the collection is simply immense. But it's still well organized!
We had a blast hunting for cool books here. We actually spent over three hours here, thoroughly enjoying ourselves as we went through these cool books.
We found so many great books at Midlands. We bought far too many to travel home with, but they were kind enough to ship our books back home for us (overseas).
A real hidden gem for collectors of hard to get books. I was able to get a rare book I was looking for, and for a great price. The people who run this are very nice and was able to get my book shipped very quickly, despite having to have it shipped internationally to here in the states.
Stepping inside this bookstore was a delight! It immediately ranks among the best I've ever experienced. The care and dedication of the owner is palpable. It's the kind of place you could happily get lost in for hours. If you're nearby, this is an absolute must-visit. I can't recommend it enough.
An absolute pleasure to deal with Robert, at Midlands Books and Collectables. My books were extremely well packaged and protected, and shipping was super quick. I received my books 2 days after payment cleared. I will definitely be buying from them again, and highly recommend them.
Patrick
I recently bought a book online from Midlands Books and the experience was great! Robert was very helpful and shipped the book to Spain. The book was a rare find and in pristine conditions! Would recommend 100%!
Absolutely INCREDIBLE treasure trove of the most collectible books, coins and artifacts I’ve seen and absolutely worth the trip out to the Old Mushroom Farm to visit this gem - you could get let in the store for a week and still not get to see everything! Incredible service to match the selection! A must see and worthy of the five stars and more!
Excellent service from Midlands Books. They searched for books and ordered books in for me. I’ll definitely be doing business with them again in future.
We discovered Midlands books and collectibles at the old mushroom farm and at horse shoe bend. You can spend hours browsing the incredible selection of books. The vast array of bird books is definitely worth the visit.
I discovered the most enchanting magical bookshop – a true hidden gem! The moment you step inside, you’re surrounded by shelves that seem to stretch into other worlds, filled with every kind of story imaginable. From secret passageways to cozy reading nooks, this shop has it all, creating an atmosphere that feels like stepping into a fairytale. The staff are as knowledgeable as they are welcoming, always ready to recommend your next great adventure. It’s not just a place to buy books; it’s a doorway to other world with the incredible domed roof of the mushroom farm. A must-visit for any book lover!
Utterly enchanting, in a unique and magical setting (an old mushroom farm tunnel in the beautiful, wooded Midlands Meander). This is hands-down one of the best bookstores I've ever perused (I'm serious about books and work for a major publishing house).
The selection is incredible; I visited from Oxford (England) and was amazed at the very old, rare and precious gems on offer - books that would be snaffled up by auctioneers and collectors too quickly to even set eyes upon in the UK are waiting here at unbelievably good prices.
There is something for every interest and price point; this is both a solid second-hand bookshop as well as collectible store. The owner was so friendly and took time to show my family and I some of the oldest, largest, and most unusual items in the collection. We were dazzled by a poetry book from the Renaissance period; signed first editions of books from authors as diverse as Douglas Adams and Muhammed Ali; antique children's illustrated books and even a hand-coloured illustrated South African bird book. The owner also had an impressive coin / currency collection which was fascinating to view.
If the literature or objets d'art were not enough, there was also a delightfully cosy dog (pictured) - irresistible! I walked away a very happy customer and will go out my way to visit again when I'm next in South Africa.
Wow! Amazing diversity of previously owned and collectible books. I enjoyed the section on books about birds and birding - several shelves worth - just on this topic - including many rare and classic texts.
To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa by Xolela Mangcu
R85.00
The State of Democracy in South Africa – An incisive examination of South Africa’s democracy under Thabo Mbeki. Xolela Mangcu explores ANC politics, corruption, racial identity, political leadership and the challenges facing the country’s post-apartheid democratic development.
Sold
This copy has found a new home. We buy and source books like this, so WhatsApp us and we will look out for another copy for you.
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To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa by Xolela Mangcu is a compelling and thought-provoking examination of South Africa’s political landscape, democratic development and the challenges facing the country in the years following the end of apartheid. Published in 2008 by the University of KwaZulu-Natal Press, this important work of political commentary provides a critical perspective on the presidency of Thabo Mbeki, the African National Congress (ANC) and the increasingly complex relationship between political power, democracy and social transformation.
Xolela Mangcu, a prominent South African sociologist, political analyst, author and public intellectual, examines the tensions and contradictions that emerged as South Africa attempted to consolidate its young democracy. Through his incisive observations, Mangcu explores the extent to which the democratic ideals of the liberation struggle have been translated into meaningful political accountability, social justice and freedom of expression.
Central to To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa is an examination of political leadership under Thabo Mbeki and the growing divisions within the ANC. Mangcu considers the dangers of political intolerance, the concentration of power, the marginalisation of independent voices and the consequences of placing loyalty to political organisations above the principles of democratic accountability.
The author also engages with some of the most controversial political and social questions of the period, including South Africa’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the political and humanitarian crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe, racial identity, corruption and the challenges of economic and social inequality.
To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa also highlights the importance of intellectual independence and critical debate in maintaining a functioning democracy. Mangcu challenges the assumption that criticism of the governing party necessarily represents opposition to the broader liberation movement, arguing instead that rigorous public scrutiny is essential to protecting the democratic achievements of 1994.
Written during a particularly turbulent period in South African political history, To the Brink – The State of Democracy in South Africa provides valuable insight into the political climate preceding the end of Thabo Mbeki’s presidency. Its examination of leadership struggles, democratic institutions and the responsibilities of political parties offers an important contemporary perspective on a formative chapter in South Africa’s post-apartheid history.
Condition – Very Good
Light surface and shelf wear to the glossy covers, with minor discolouration to the page edges. No significant external defects apparent.
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