BOOK REVIEW: Historian: An autobiography
Hermann Giliomee's autobiography of a highly rated dissident Afrikaner political scientist, historian and journalist focuses the spotlight on federal system and cracks in Constitution, writes Hans Pienaar
Historian: An autobiography Hermann Giliomee Tafelberg Publishers Does SA find itself in a Fukyaman trap? That would be one in which we believe we have reached the end of our history, culminating in the comforting narrative that we have the best constitution in the world. All that remains now is implementation, the long slog of giving effect to the values entrenched in it. In these times, when the Constitution is under assault from a black economic empowerment elite, but also shows its worth and that of the institutions it enables, it may seem blasphemous to suggest that no constitution can ever be complete and that SA’s has some glaring deficiencies in meeting the country’s unique challenges. But, along comes Hermann Giliomee’s autobiography, offering a veritable treasure chest of perspectives and alternatives from the past and something such as blasphemy becomes almost mandatory: SA’s future is far from settled and a lot of work remains. Giliomee is world-renowned as a historian d...
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