Morning in South Africa

Foreign policy professional Campbell uses the idea of morning . . . to describe post-apartheid South Africa's progress since 1994. The country's history from settlement by Europeans in 1652 to the death of Nelson Mandela in 2013 occupies a significant portion of the book. . . . Valuable comparisons are made between Jim Crow in the U.S. and apartheid. . . . When discussing the present day, Campbell describes a South Africa that is on the cusp of political and economic transformation, whether for good or ill, but sees no immediate likelihood of the country going over that brink. . . . He doesn't shy away from the failings of the deal made to end apartheid, including the fact that whites are still, economically, the dominant race in the country, and the failings of the Mandela and Mbeki administrations to adequately address the HIV/AIDS crisis . . . Campbell ends the book on an optimistic note, acknowledging that South Africa's young democracy has many opportunities to grow and improve. * Publishers Weekly *
In the process of making the contrarian argument that South Africa’s prospects are promising despite the country’s current difficulties, Campbell has also written an excellent introduction to the South African political economy.... Campbell’s optimism stems from his belief that the country’s democratic institutions are strong and resilient and that its people have already completed much of the hard work of building a ‘nonracial’ democracy.... [T]he book’s reasonable tone and fact-based review of the record represent a useful antidote to more common alarmist accounts. Also welcome is Campbell’s call for more active and ambitious U.S. engagement with South Africa. * Foreign Affairs *
Readers interested in understanding the differences and similarities between the democratic cultures of SA and the US, the basis for building and sustaining any strategic partnership — variables such as size, location, economic development, racial composition and the number and nature of domestic and international conflicts — will find Campbell’s chapter 'The historical trajectory' especially helpful. * Business Day Live *
Those of us who worked hard to support the black citizens of South Africa in their struggle for majority rule have been rooting for that young democracy to succeed. Two decades later, we are concerned about their ability to surmount some difficult political and economic challenges. For that reason, we are happy to be reassured by Ambassador John Campbell that South Africa's democratic institutions are alive and well, and that the outlook remains optimistic. I can't think of any scholar who is more qualified to provide a thorough analysis of South Africa's past, present, and future than John Campbell. -- Herman J. Cohen, U.S. Ambassador (retired)
John Campbell has it exactly right: South Africa's dawn (1994) has given way to a morning after, poised between hope and hangover. After a decade and a half of unworthy leadership, the country suffers from draining coffers, a local currency in free fall, and a stark landscape littered with dashed hopes. But, more than anyone, Campbell shows us how this glass is in fact half full. The unparalleled talent, energy, laughter, and determination in a society unlike any other in the world will carry it through to better times. Such beauty and fascination cannot wither. Campbell's case is beyond convincing—it is proof positive that South Africa will advance at its own pace, in its own time—but advance, none the less. -- Daniel Whitman, American University
Morning in South Africa should be widely read. In a taut volume, John Campbell elucidates key aspects of change and continuity since the end of apartheid. He depicts how the country’s 'brand' has declined along with the reputation of its national leaders. Despite social and economic disappointments, however, the institutions of constitutional democracy are firm: fair elections, an independent judiciary, and freedoms of association and speech. Campbell is optimistic that South Africa can still fulfill the hopes inspired by its glorious emancipation from racial oppression. -- Richard Joseph, Northwestern University
John Campbell's book could not be more timely. South Africa is facing serious economic and political challenges. Relations with the United States are at a dangerous low. This book goes deep into those issues but also demonstrates that the institutions of democracy, judicial integrity, the free press, and a dynamic civil society are strong and will not only survive but will assure a brighter future. The relationship with the United States can be rebuilt in this environment, and that should be a priority of both countries. -- Princeton Lyman, United States Institute of Peace, former U.S. Ambassador to South Africa