‘The emotional debate about South Africa’s past of colonialism and apartheid draws heavily on the assumption that our history differs little from that of other Western colonies where the land was forcibly taken from an indigenous population which was decimated or completely marginalised. A comparative study of colonialism, however, reveals several features that have made South Africa exceptional …’ Hermann Giliomee, pre-eminent South African historian, dissects the forces that shaped the Afrikaners into an unusual ‘maverick African’ nation. In part one of this collection, he analyses long-term forces like the powerful legal position of Afrikaner women, the expanding frontier that gave rise to individualism and later to republicanism, and the struggles about race inside the Dutch Reformed Church. The second part examines controversial aspects of more recent Afrikaner political history, including the alleged civil service purges after 1948, Nationalist corruption, the Absa ‘Lifeboat’ and the quality of Afrikaner leadership. Finally there is a chapter on the ‘broken heart’ of the Afrikaner community. Hermann Giliomee is a renowned historian. His bestselling 'The Afrikaners' was published to international acclaim and adapted into a popular television documentary. He was a Fellow at Yale, Cambridge and the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington DC.
Hermann Giliomee weaves together the story of his own life with that of his country, a country that continues to absorb and inspire him, not least because its contested history is central to its current politics. An internationally respected historian, Giliomee has devoted a lifetime to exploring the origins and perpetuation of the deep divisions in South African society. His work, original and fearless, appeals not only to scholars but also to general readers interested in the complexities of South Africa's past and present. His outspokenness has hit nerves across the political spectrum, and he has been branded a «snake in our midst», an «oorbeligte», a «language bull» and the «boer in the woodpile». Although Giliomee grew up in the heart of the Afrikaner nationalist movement, he soon began to cut his own path in examining the rise and entrenchment of exclusive Afrikaner power. In the 1980s and 1990s, in particular, he sharply criticised the NP government's autocracy and unwillingness to negotiate. As an «outside insider», his understanding of Afrikaner power is informed and nuanced. He is the author of numerous bestsellers, including the magisterial work The Afrikaners: Biography of a People – which was selected by The Economist as one of its books of the year in 2003.
Hermann Giliomee verweef die verhaal van sy lewensverloop met dié van 'n land wat hom boei en besiel, 'n land waar die geskiedskrywing sentraal staan tot die hedendaagse politiek. As internasionaal gerekende historikus ondersoek Giliomee lewenslank die ontstaan en handhawing van die skerp verdeeldheid in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing. Sy werk is vars en vreesloos, en vind aanklank by kenners én gewone Afrikaanse lesers wat oor hulself en hul verlede begin herbesin. Sy uitgesprokenheid haal hom dikwels die gramskap op die hals – uit wyd uiteenlopende oorde. Hy is al gebrandmerk as 'n slang in ons midde", 'n oorbeligte", 'n taalbul" en die boer in the woodpile". Hoewel Giliomee as kind van die Afrikaner-volksbeweging in die 1950's grootword, wyk hy af van die nasionalistiese tradisie in sy kritiese ondersoek na die opkoms, hoogty en ondergang van eksklusiewe Afrikanermag. Hy lewer veral in die 1980's en 1990's skerp kritiek op die regering se alleenheerskappy en sy onwilligheid om vanuit 'n posisie van mag te begin onderhandel. Met binnekring-kennis is sy verstaan van Afrikanermag ingelig en genuanseerd, iets wat saam met sy onderhoudende vertelwyse lei tot talle topverkopers, waaronder die magistrale The Afrikaners, wat in 2003 deur The Economist uitgesonder is as een van sy boeke van die jaar.
Die dramatiese en boeiende verhaal van die Afrikaners – vol teenstrydige neigings tot vryheid en onderdrukking – in hoogs leesbare styl.
Internasionaal-bekende historikus prof. Hermann Giliomee verken die redes vir die Afrikaners se opgee van mag asook hul soms stormagtige verhouding met die ANC en president Zuma.
'n Topverkoper wat wyd gereken word as die standaard-werk oor die geskiedenis van Afrikaners in Suid-Afrika.
Die lewe en politiek van Hendrik Verwoerd – met nuwe inligting gevind deur gerekende historikus Hermann Giliomee. 'n Insiggewende en deurdagte kyk na Verwoerd se beleide en keuses, en hoe hulle vandag nog Suid-Afrika beïnvloed. Hoe kon so 'n intelligente persoon vir so lank help om 'n onderdrukkende stelsel te handhaaf? Giliomee soek die antwoord.