Power, Money and Miseducation in South Africa (1976-2000). Peter Collins

This book records the authors evolving personal perspectives on South Africas astonishing political transition from apartheid to majority rule between 1976-1994 and thereafter. It also identifies the seeds of future disasters which were sown early on by both white and black leaders.

Throughout this time, Peter taught philosophy at the University of Cape Town in (successively) the Philosophy, Politics and Management Studies Departments. He won an early Distinguished Teachers Award though soon after was nearly sacked for drunkenness. He was rescued by compassionate colleagues and became an assistant to the new Dean of Commerce, Brian Kantor. Here he taught a course on philosophy and business to 1400 first-year students and was soon promoted Associate Professor. He left UCT in 2000 and became Professor of Public Policy Studies at the University of Salford (UK), while continuing to run South Africas National Responsible Gambling Programme which he had co-founded.

The book contains (mostly scandalous) inside stories from his involvement in university and public affairs including those surrounding the riots occasioned by the visit of Conor Cruise OBrien, the early years of the AIDS epidemic, the Cape Town Olympic Bid and the passing of South Africas highly successful gambling laws. He is also candid about the woes and the joys of his personal life.

As the son-in-law of Etienne Leroux, then Afrikanerdoms premier novelist, he came to like and admire many members of the deeply divided Afrikaner intellectual aristocracy. Etienne was a close friend of Graham Greene so Peter was able to spend an enjoyable day in France with one of his long-time literary heroes.

Academic life allowed Peter to socialise with many of the distinguished international philosophers who visited South Africa at this time from Quine and Charles Taylor to Alan Ryan. He also made many research trips abroad and got to know many academics with diverse views including Michael Oakeshott and Ronald Dworkin. He also formed a warm 10-year friendship with Isaiah Berlin.

Softcover, 721 pages. Very good condition.