A history of Malawi: 1859–1966

Many on the left will find Marais’ exploration of potentially counter-hegemonic social movements unsatisfactory. He offers reason for hope, but less than most would like. The Landless People’s Movement, shack-dwellers, the rise and fall of the Anti-Poverty Forum, all deserve more attention. Absent here, however, are the challenges taking place within the union-movement, with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) old guard losing ground as the precariously employed failed to be defended under its umbrella. There is also nothing on South Africa’s regional relations, which are feeding a debate on the nature of imperialism (see Alden and Soko 2005; Biel 2003; Bond 2012, 2006; Bracking 2003; Bracking and Harrison 2003; Lesufi 2006; Samson 2009). Yet Marais does take stock of an era in history, setting South African political economy into a broader global context with a brilliant, integrated analysis. Surely there is room for a critique of his use of Gramsci, though his employment of it here is compelling.