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IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Thabo Mbeki: An intellectual powerhouse far ahead of his generation
Former President Thabo Mbeki was known for crafting his own speeches, engaging in thoughtful debates, and challenging conventional wisdom. Let us remember Mbeki not as a relic of the past, but as a beacon for the future. Image: DIRCO 'You have to lead. You should be sensitive to what your followers think. But if you do exactly what they want, you are not a leader.' — Mahathir Mohamad IN an era where political leadership often prioritises popularity over principle, former president Thabo Mbeki stood out as a rare intellectual force in South African politics. Unlike his predecessors, who relied heavily on speechwriters, Mbeki was known for crafting his own speeches, engaging in thoughtful debates, and challenging conventional wisdom. Mbeki's presidency was marked by a unique blend of intellect and political acumen. He dared to question dominant narratives, most notably during the HIV/Aids crisis, when he encouraged broader scientific discourse rather than accepting prevailing assumptions uncritically. While this approach drew criticism, it also highlighted his commitment to reasoned inquiry — a hallmark of his leadership style. His ability to bridge the gap between academia and governance set him apart. Mbeki was not only a politician but also a thinker — one who could frame complex policy issues with clarity and originality. He approached governance with a philosopher's depth and a statesman's pragmatism, making him one of Africa's most respected leaders. 'What happens,' asked Mahmood Mamdani, commenting on the William Makgoba imbroglio at Wits, 'when seekers of knowledge turn around and claim to be custodians of knowledge? Knowledge seeking is a profoundly humble and a profoundly subversive activity. Its starting point, Socrates' fashion, is both the admission of ignorance in self and the questioning of truth. Knowledge-custody, on the other hand, is more of a self-appointed priestly affair, both arrogant and conservative.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Indeed, Mbeki's critical intellect and his unwillingness to be swamped by the opinion of the herd were best captured by his pronouncements on issues of national concern, more specifically concerning the HIV/Aids debate. To be president of a country does not necessarily mean that one should not have or express personal views on matters of national interest. Even though, for public figures, the line between the private and the public is often blurred, it is sometimes necessary to keep it in mind, especially in this age of the unscrupulous press and the paparazzi. Mbeki's intellectual rigour was matched by his dedication to public service. He oversaw economic reforms that stabilised South Africa's post-apartheid economy and championed Pan-Africanism through initiatives like the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad). As a diplomat, he played a key role in mediating regional conflicts and elevating South Africa's global standing. Despite his achievements, Mbeki's intellectual independence made him a polarising figure. Critics accused him of being aloof or overly theoretical, yet these very traits enabled him to govern with vision and consistency. In a political climate increasingly dominated by populism and short-term thinking, Mbeki's legacy reminds us of the value of critical thought and principled leadership. A product of ANC liberation traditions, Mbeki inherited a deep commitment to justice from his father, Govan Mbeki, and his mother, Epainette Mbeki. Educated abroad during decades of exile, he returned to help shape South Africa's democratic future. His tenure as deputy president under then-president Nelson Mandela positioned him as a natural successor, and he led the country from 1999 until his controversial recall in 2008. Since Mbeki's departure from office, political discourse in South Africa has arguably deteriorated. Parliamentary debate has become more performative than substantive, and intellectual engagement is often sidelined. This decline underscores the importance of nurturing critical thinking from an early age, encouraging young people to question, reflect, and challenge established norms. Mbeki's intellectual contributions extend beyond policy. He understood that history is not merely a record of events but a lens through which we interpret the present and imagine the future. Drawing from thinkers like Giorgio Agamben and Roger Simon, Mbeki framed the past not as a burden but as a source of insight — an untimely light illuminating the complexities of our time. As Isaiah Berlin once noted, understanding a thinker requires identifying the central idea that animates their work. For Mbeki, that idea was the transformative power of knowledge, both as a tool for development and as a moral compass guiding political action. He believed in Africa's potential to chart its own course and advocated for African solutions to African problems. The modern world demands leaders who can marry intellect with governance. As Robert Taylor argued, instinct alone cannot navigate the complexities of contemporary challenges. A nation's survival depends on leaders who apply rigorous thought to practical affairs. Mbeki exemplified this ideal, combining scholarly reflection with decisive leadership. Edward Said warned against intellectuals who shy away from difficult truths out of fear of controversy. Mbeki never shied away. He remained steadfast in his convictions, even when they placed him at odds with popular opinion. That courage, coupled with his eloquence and integrity, defined his legacy. As Said put it: 'Nothing in my mind is more reprehensible than those habits of mind in the intellectual that induce avoidance, that characteristic turning away from a difficult and principled position which you know to be the right one.' Ever since Mbeki left Parliament, there has been a 'dumbing down' of political discourse in the National Assembly. Politicians seem almost frightened, if not apathetic, about showing intellect. Politicians have become intellectually moribund. Cacophony in the form of heckling has replaced robust political discourse. Sadly, this is characteristic of our society at large. It starts right early in school classes. Children need to be taught to have independent thoughts, to question what they are given, and to challenge myths. Mbeki is the nation's best thinker among politicians, and the best politician among thinkers. Mbeki is the most widely respected politician on the entire African continent, if not the world. A consistent theme throughout Mbeki's political career has been his inimitable ability to frame and reframe a debate on a given public policy problem by relying on data and originality, not ideology, and to do it with wry and perceptive wit and eloquent wisdom that cannot escape one's attention. Mbeki is the epitome and embodiment of exceptional and illuminating lifelong virtues. For anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting him, it is not hard to remember his awesome personality. Throughout his political life, he has won wide respect as a voice of reason and a source of wisdom. He is the resolute voice for wisdom and decency. Armed with colossal energy and astute judgment, he has helped settle some of the most complex international disputes. Today, Mbeki's ideas are resurging in relevance. As South Africa grapples with economic stagnation and political uncertainty, there is renewed interest in his vision of rational governance, Pan-African solidarity, and intellectual courage. His absence from active politics left a void — one that few have been able to fill. Let us remember Thabo Mbeki not as a relic of the past, but as a beacon for the future. * Dr Vusi Shongwe works in the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture in KwaZulu-Natal and writes in his personal capacity. ** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
Wall Street Journal
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
The U.S. Can Rise to the Chinese Challenge
The only way to rise to the Chinese challenge in the epic contest now under way is to heed the words of China's great warrior philosopher, Sun Tzu: 'The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.' Because we were able to avoid a mutually catastrophic military conflict with the Soviet Union, we won the Cold War through the skillful use of nonmilitary advantages. These included economic power, technological superiority, diplomacy, strategic communications behind the Iron Curtain and around the world, development and humanitarian assistance, security assistance, alliances and ideology. We were lucky that the Soviet Union, while a military superpower, was weak in every other way, economically and technologically most of all. After the 1950s, its ideology had little appeal around the world.
India Today
09-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Delhi, Beijing ties eased, India-China-Russia troika could resume: Russia Minister
The stalled work of the Russia-India-China (RIC) troika could be restarted as the tension between New Delhi and Beijing has eased 'significantly', Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on at the 'Forum of the Future-2050' here, the Russian foreign minister also said the resumption of joint work in RIC format could be the first step towards pan-Eurasian processes, including the formation of a multi-polar really hope that we will be able to restore the work of the Russia-India-China trio. We have not met at the level of foreign ministers for the last couple of years, but we are discussing this issue with my Chinese colleague and with the Indian head of the External Affairs department,' Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russia's state-run TASS news agency. 'I really hope that now that the tension has eased, in my opinion, has eased significantly on the border between India and China, and the situation is stabilising, there is a dialogue between New Delhi and Beijing, we will be able to resume the work of this Russia-India-China trio," he the deadly Galwan Valley standoff between the militaries of India and China in 2020, the RIC troika has not been very said that Russia and China can and should play a leading and proactive role in the pan-continental process, including in the formation of a multi-polar architecture, and added that the restoration of the RIC format could act as the first step towards this.'This will also be a very important step forward in the movement of continental processes,' he two-day forum inspired by Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, often dubbed as President Vladimir Putin's 'guru', has attracted young and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's father Erol Musk is also attending the forum.
Wall Street Journal
06-06-2025
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Humanity According to Alasdair MacIntrye
One of the world's greatest Catholic philosophers died May 21. Alasdair Chalmers MacIntyre was 96. Normally classified as a philosopher of ethics, MacIntyre was a fierce critic of modern ethical theory. His writings drew deeply from a wide array of fields, including theology, social science, psychology, history and literature, but he never pursued a doctorate. Born in Glasgow, he received master's degrees from Manchester and Oxford, later telling a student: 'I won't go so far as to say that you have a deformed mind if you have a Ph.D., but you will have to work extra hard to remain educated.'
The Guardian
01-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
The ancient Chinese text of the Zhuangzi teaches us to reject entrenched values – and treasure the diversity of humanity
The Zhuangzi, an ancient Chinese Daoist text written by the philosopher known by the same name, has a lot to say about people who are considered 'disabled'. This is interesting in itself, as parts of it were written around the 4th century BCE, when only the privileged could read and write. Why would the authors of this text, men of privilege, be interested in people who were considered at the time to be 'less than normal'? The answer relates, at least in part, to the fact that the text was critical of how its society promoted and prioritised the 'valuable' or 'useful', and what was regarded as important to humanity. Within such a society, whatever – or whoever – falls short of the accepted standards is seen in demeaning ways. But the Zhuangzi rejects this way of thinking. So how might we put some of these ideas into practice today? The Zhuangzi tells the story of a wondrous tree, so large that its canopy provided shade for thousands of oxen. The tree only became this large because its wood was deemed to be 'useless' for any human project. Therefore, it was left alone and allowed to grow into its magnificent size. This story shows how easy it is for us to adopt entrenched values. Are we guided too much by what society tells us is 'useless'? It allows us to turn the tables on our own assumptions and challenge our thinking of what 'normal' and 'useful' means. This is reflective of Daoism more broadly, which advocates for diversity in how we think about humanity and human achievements. Daoism resists what would today be considered an ableist approach to life. It teaches us that looking at life through an ableist lens only leads to negativity about those who are deemed 'not good enough'. Such an approach looks for how people are deficient, rather than how they are capable. The Zhuangzi's point is not that we cannot celebrate excellence. Rather, it champions the richness of life by showing that people can be excellent in many different ways. Instead of telling us how to fix people's medical and physiological conditions, it prompts us to reflect on the shallow attitudes of those who see others as 'disabled', who want to draw attention to what some people lack, rather than what they might have. There isn't a word in the Zhuangzi that means 'disability'. Rather, the ancient text uses storytelling and exaggerated language to try to show how society sees some people in derogatory ways. Stories about 'sad horsehead humpback' or 'hunchback limpleg' show that these are not labels that the men were born with; they were given to them by a society that wrongly prides itself on 'normalising' able-bodied people. Through these stories, we learn that sometimes the word 'disability' is used unfairly to define people, so that our interactions with them are determined by the label. As the Zhuangzhi shows, life is too important for us to take a one-size-fits-all approach to it. The philosophy encourages us to embrace the richness of life by appreciating its diversity. Karyn Lai is a professor of philosophy in the faculty of arts, design and architecture, University of New South Wales
