Nationalisation: Swear word for some, cure-all for others both within and outside the ruling party.Tim Cohen, a senior journalist with many years experience in both political and business reporting, traces the emergence of calls for nationalisation in South African politics. It is a subject which has become the most fiercely argued and passionate economic debate of modern-day South African politics. This is particularly so since the call for nationalisation is so closely associated...

The post-Apartheid era shows fascinating echoes of the era after the Boer War: Afrikaners learning that they can win by 'losing', the trade-off between vengeance and forbearance, and a worrying trajectory towards nationalism. Efforts to reconcile 'the nation' are treacherous and demand trade-offs. Tim Cohen looks at how Louis Botha and Nelson Mandela managed the transitions they were overseeing - and how both suffered the backlash. Is reconciliation even possible?

Through a series of essays by leading demographers, environmentalists and reproductive health advocates, A Pivotal Moment offers a new perspective on the complex connection between population dynamics and environmental quality. It presents the latest research on the relationship between population growth and climate change, ecosystem health and other environmental issues. It surveys the new demographic landscape—in which population growth rates have fallen, but human numbers continue to in...

Four decades ago, The Solution — a best-seller co-authored by Leon Louw — helped shape South Africa's political settlement and left an indelible imprint on its Constitution. Today, the country finds itself at an economic impasse once more, and Louw's ideas feel more urgent than ever.In this deeply researched and elegantly told account, Tim Cohen, one of South Africa's most respected and incisive financial journalists, draws on hours of conversations with Louw to capture th...

It's rare that a book appears with a fresh perspective on world affairs, but renowned economist Ha-Joon Chang has some startlingly original things to say about the future of globalization. In theory, he argues, the world's wealthiest countries and supra-national institutions like the IMF, World Bank and WTO want to see all nations developing into modern industrial societies. In practice, though, those at the top are 'kicking away the ladder' to wealth that they themselves climbed....

The European Union is rarely out of the news and, as it deals with the consequences of the Brexit vote and struggles to emerge from the eurozone crisis, it faces difficult questions about its future. In this debate, the law has a central role to play, whether the issue be the governance of the eurozone, the internal market, 'clawing back powers from Europe' or reducing so-called 'Brussels red tape'. In this Very Short Introduction Anthony Arnull looks at the laws and legal system ...

In September 2008, Thabo Mbeki was ‘recalled’ as president of South Africa, seven months before his term was due to end. This book takes stock of Mbeki’s presidency, by focusing on a simple question: how has South Africa prospered or weakened under his stewardship? The Mbeki Legacy considers how Mbeki consolidated power and why he was defeated at the ANC’s 2007 Polokwane conference. It weighs up the successes of his macro-economic policies and his shortcomings in the fields of crime fighti...

"I recommend our diplomats and ministers read this book: it will provide them with an intellectual backbone. On the big calls [Bootle] has a spectacularly good record." Dominic Lawson, The Sunday Times"Bootle is right on every count." The GuardianHOW BREXIT WILL WORK FOR BRITAIN AND EUROPEMaking a Success of Brexit and Reforming the EU is the extensively revised and expanded new edition of ...

What will happen if Britain leaves the EU, and how will it affect you? Europe: vital for Britain's economy and global standing or a bureaucratic monster hell-bent on destroying our national sovereignty? And why is no one talking about what leaving Europe would actually mean? Addressing the real issues surrounding a potential exit from the EU - including jobs, travel, immigration, investment, sovereignty and justice - this book investigates the consequences both for the country and for the ...

When faced with global instability and economic uncertainty, it is tempting for states to react by closing borders, hoarding wealth and solidifying power. We have seen it at various times in Japan, France and Italy and now it is infecting much of Europe and America, as the vote for Brexit in the UK has vividly shown. This insularity, together with increased inequality of income and wealth, threatens the future role of the West as a font of stability, prosperity and security. Part of the pr...

POST-REFERENDUM EDITION OF THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, WITH A NEW PREFACE.'Confused about the EU referendum? In the dark about which way to vote? Daniel Hannan's invaluable vade mecum will illuminate the whole question, showing why voting to leave is a leap back into the light' Boris Johnson.'Powerful, intelligent, hard-hitting, well-written... absolutely required reading for every Briton who is considering voting on 23 June' Andrew Roberts.

The Penguin Economist Special reports delve into the most pressing economic issues of the day: from national and global economies, to the impact of trade, industry and jobs. Written to be read on a long commute or in your lunch hour - be better informed in under an hour.As Western liberalist capitalism flounders in the wake of global recession, state backed companies are slowly taking over.The melding of the power of the state and the power of capitalism is on the rise. Pre...