Bring Me My Machine Gun: The Battle for the Soul of South Africa from Mandela to Zuma by Alec Russell

Résumé du document

This book report defines the important aspects of Nelson Mandela's leadership and it reflects the character of liberty that is being expressed after the fall of Apartheid. Russell makes sure to understand the political dimensions of the appearance of a change in leadership after Apartheid in the triumph of the release of Mandela as a political prisoner. When Mandela was elected president by a unanimous vote, he began to understand the somewhat the superficial nature of the economic pressures he had to face as a leader of a newly freed colonial state.

The reality of racism in South Africa, however, was far from over and the ‘myth' of freedom for blacks in Africa that Mandela endured after he stepped down from office. When Mbeki took over, Mandela's political symbolism as a leader is defined in the role he represented at the national level as a peacemaker: “A leader must keep the forces together, but you can't do that unless you allow dissent”.

Extraits

[...] These are the three key recommendations I would give through the evidence provided by Russell in this book. Work Cited Russell, Alec. Bring Me My Machine Gun: The Battle for the Soul of South Africa, from Mandela to Zuma. New York: Public Affairs Alec Russell, Bring Me My Machine Gun: The Battle for the Soul of South Africa, from Mandela to Zuma (New York: Public Affairs, 2009) Ibid 20. Ibid 86. Ibid 204. [...]

[...] The ANC is the dominant party in which a few ruling elites have taken over the country, resulting in the marginalization of truly democratic organizations like of the Democratic Alliance (DA). In this way, the political structure allows western business organizations to own and run their business, which had deferred a nationalization of business acumen for local black business leaders in the community. This is often part of the conflicting infighting occurring between the ANC and the DA as a way to undermine racist identity issues about black businesspersons: The party's natural area for growth among black community should be the property-owning classes and the business elite, he [Pallo Jordan—a member of ANC] said. [...]

[...] Finally, I see Russell's three main problems with the South African being political, economic and racial in the dominant factors that need addressing. The three key recommendations for resolving these issues must be addressed through Russell's important commentary on the weaknesses of the governing system. Firstly, the nationalization of the country's business economic structure is still a crucial way for South African to remain independent from the colonial legacy of foreign investments that dominate the country to this day.[7] Secondly, the political elitism of the ANC needs to become less a factor in the governing of the country, which would allow greater influence of the truly democratic initiatives brought forth by the DA. [...]

[...] Ibid 234. Ibid 153. Ibid 165. [...]

[...] Bring Me My Machine Gun: The Battle for the Soul of South Africa from Mandela to Zuma by Alec Russell This book report defines the important aspects of Nelson Mandela's leadership in that is promotes the often times false assumption that he reflects the character of liberty that is being expressed after the fall of Apartheid. Russell makes sure to understand the political dimensions of the appearance of a change in leadership after Apartheid in the triumph of the release of Mandela as a political prisoner. [...]