A Man of Africa The Political Thought of Harry Oppenheimer

Title: A Man of Africa
Subtitle: The Political Thought of Harry Oppenheimer
Author: Kalim Rajab
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Imprint: Zebra Press
ISBN 9781776092116 / ISBN 978-1-77-609211-6
Cape Town, South Africa 2017
Softcover, 15 x 24 cm, 217 pages, several color and b/w photographs

About: A Man of Africa The Political Thought of Harry Oppenheimer

Principled reformer or duplicitous exploiter? The contested legacy of Harry Oppenheimer reflects the tensions involved in dealing with South Africa's complex past. The head of a sprawling global business empire, Oppenheimer played an influential role in twentieth-century South Africa - a role celebrated by some and condemned by others. This book investigates his political thinking over half a century, and considers the nature of his opposition to apartheid as well as his contribution to the democratic age ushered in by Tambo and Mandela. A Man of Africa presents Oppenheimer's views on liberalism, apartheid, socialism, sanctions, trade unions, education, geopolitics and the legacy of Cecil John Rhodes. Each topic is explored via extracts from his speeches, and is followed by an assessment by prominent South Africans such as Kgalema Motlanthe, Albie Sachs, Clem Sunter, Denis Beckett, Bobby Godsell, Jonathan Jansen and Xolela Mangcu. Fascinating and insightful, A Man of Africa shines new light on one of South Africa's most powerful and multifaceted figures, and reflects on the role of principled business in a political economy.

Content: A Man of Africa The Political Thought of Harry Oppenheimer

Abbreviations
Preface
Part I: Harry Oppenheimer: A Historical Assessment
Part II: The Speeches: 1950-1990
1. On liberalism and freedom of choice for all
Heribert Adam, 'Privileging legality over legitimacy'
Denis Beckett, 'Millions of payslips'
2. On political solutions for an ostracised South Africa
3. Apartheid is bound to fail',
Ann Bernstein, An age of leadership'
Tony Bloom, An exquisite approach - but should the gloves have come off?'
Michael Spicer, 'Remembering the business contribution to our successful transition to democracy'
Clem Sunter, 'Occasionally the Catholic Church has to go to the Moulin Rouge'
4. An enmity to socialism and central planning
Albie Sachs, 'Perspective of the exiles'
5. The case against sanctions, 1980s
Lord Robin Renwick, 'Understanding opposition to sanctions requires nuance'
6. The emergence of trade unions, 1980s
Bobby Godsell, 'The classical liberal who bore the responsibilities of power'
Kgalema Motlanthe, A pragmatist amid 1980s ambiguousness
7. The education imperative for all
Jonathan Jansen, 'The other Harry'
Xolela Mangcu, 'Between faith and conscience: Harry Oppenheimer on the challenge of the South African university'
Stuart Saunders, 'Beyond symbols'
8. Geopolitics: The role of the US in helping foster peaceful change
Andrew Young, 'He never gave up on peace'
9. The case against Rhodes
Kalim Rajab, 'Towards the mountain'
Acknowledgements
Notes
Bibliography
Contributors
Index