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by Daleep Singh (Author)
This book provides a comprehensive economic and social history of South Africa, tracing its trajectory from the Dutch East India Company's initial colonization in 1652 through the era of British rule, which formally ended in the 1990s. It meticulously documents the nearly 350-year period of white domination, structured into five insightful parts. The analysis begins with the foundations of Dutch settlement and its core socio-economic institution: slavery, which became the primary engine of the colony's output for a century. Subsequent sections explore the British administration, the Great Boer Trek, the Imperialist wars against the Zulu and Boer nations, and the critical evolution of capitalism within the mining and agricultural sectors. The narrative then examines the destabilizing impact of the Apartheid regime on the region and concludes by analyzing the post-colonial "dependence syndrome" in Southern Africa. The work acknowledges the global significance of South Africa's transition to democracy, crediting Nelson Mandela's role in empowering the majority and establishing a government that recognizes its entire populace, ultimately positioning the nation as a modern regional power.
