Pollak podcast on the Kasrils Affair

You've been reading Joel's debate, now hear him speaking about his new book, "The Kasrils Affair", at this Z-Word Podcast: Joel Pollak on the Kasrils Affair

On the Z Word podcast: Author Joel Pollak speaks to Z Word editor Ben Cohen about his new book The Kasrils Affair: Jews and Minority Politics in Post-Apartheid South Africa - a penetrating insight into the impact of the apartheid analogy and anti-Zionist ideology on the domestic South African scene.

I was lucky enough to read an early draft of the book and recommend it not only to Jews who have been intimidated and victimised by Ronnie Kasrils, but also to anyone interested in the challenges that minority and special interest groups feel in societies so dominated by a single political party that demands obedience and acquiescence.

One of the general messages I took from the book is that minority groups (who should know better) have been so pressurised into kow-towing the ANC line that they have contributed to the increasing isolation of opposition parties like the Democratic Alliance.

The front-of-mind example for me was when the ANC pressurised FNB, a large bank in South Africa, to halt their anti-crime campaign which called on government to take a stand.

Pollak examined whether minority groups (he focused on South African Jews) should be more politically outspoken, or should behave as intercessors, using quiet diplomacy to influence government policies. The pressure the ANC exerted on FNB revealed the tactics they repeatedly exert on minority and special interest groups, forcing them to tow the ANC party line. Pollak describes a general fear that minority and interest groups suffer in dealing with the goverment.

“The ANC has almost created a “social contract” on minorities and on interest groups within civil society. The penalty for failure to join is political, social and economic isolation.”

Pollak's book is available in most leading bookstores in South Africa, or get it online from Kalahari.net.

Comments

[Bigben]

Hi Joel

You should really get your distributors to get their behinds a little more into gear. I have been trying to get your book for a while now. The first time I asked exclusive books for a copy they told me the clostest one was in Nelspruit!

They told me that there were a number of copies on order and that they would order one for me. When I phoned the other day they didnt have it on the system at all.

This is a pity a good book like this should not be stymied by poor/unfocused distribtion.

[Bigben]

Hi Joel

You should really get your distributors to get their behinds a little more into gear. I have been trying to get your book for a while now. The first time I asked exclusive books for a copy they told me the clostest one was in Nelspruit!

They told me that there were a number of copies on order and that they would order one for me. When I phoned the other day they didnt have it on the system at all.

This is a pity a good book like this should not be stymied by poor/unfocused distribtion.

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