The Next Liberation Struggle
Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy in Southern Africa
Through four decades John Saul has studied, written about, and supported southern African liberation struggles. This collection of essays draws together his long-range perspectives on regional change, and illuminates the developments that culminated in the independence of Zimbabwe and Namibia and the overthrow of apartheid.
Saul provides a pragmatic assessment of what has, and hasn’t, been achieved in the region. Part One sets out broad themes. Part Two presents case studies of Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. Part Three part focuses on South Africa, on transitions, and on socio-economic outcomes (largely neo-liberal and inegalitarian). Ultimately he identifies forces for change, and suggests imperatives and implications for Africa’s next liberation struggle.
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Reviews
Saul’s book is as much the fruit of many decades of struggle and commitment to the cause of the working class in Africa as it is of careful scholarly research. Both as a scholar and an activist, he has taught and inspired many revolutionaries, myself included, and has been part of bold practical efforts to go beyond capitalism.
– Trevor Ngwane, organizer, Anti-Privatization Forum, South Africa
Saul has written prolifically, but he has also committed himself to Africa morally and politically. His writings are all about instilling hope and learning from failure. He’s in an underground, alternate Canadian tradition to the internationalism of Lester Pearson, a tradition that includes Dr Norman Bethune.
– Rick Salutin, The Globe and Mail
Contents
| Preface | |
| Introduction | Liberation, and After |
| Part I | Continental Considerations |
| Introduction | Capitalism, Socialism, Democracy |
| Chapter 1 | Sub-Saharan Africa in Global Capitalism with Colin Leys |
| Chapter 2 | "What is to be Learned?" The Failure of African Socialisms and Their Future |
| Chapter 3 | Liberal Democracy vs. Popular Democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Part II | Southern Africa: A Range of Variation |
| Introduction | Peace, Reconciliation, Authoritarianism, and "African Socialism" |
| Chapter 4 | On War and Peace in Africa: The Mozambican Case |
| Chapter 5 | Lubango and Afrter: "Forgotten History" as Politics in Contemporary Namibia with Colin Leys |
| Chapter 6 | Mugabe, Gramsci, and Zimbabwe at Twenty-Five with Richard Saunders |
| Chapter 7 | Julius Nyerere's Socialism: Learning from Tanzania |
| Part III | South Africa: Debating Transition |
| Introduction | South Africa in Transition |
| Chapter 8 | The Transition |
| Chapter 9 | The Post-Apartheid Denouncement |
| Chapter 10 | Starting from Scratch? A Debate |
| Chapter 11 | The Hares, the Hounds, and the ANC: On Joining the Third World in Post-Apartheid South Africa |
| Part IV | Conclusion |
| Chapter 12 | Africa: The Next Liberation Struggle |
| Appendix | Class Act: Canada's Anti-Apartheid Record |
| Notes | |
| Index |
