An impressive mythology envelops Thabo Mbeki, Nelson Mandela's successor to the South African presidency. But key questions arise: Does he have an ideology? If so, what informs it, and how does it translate into practice? Has Mbeki managed to capture and articulate a clear vision, and a sense of collective values? Does he offer the leadership South Africa needs? This book offers critical perspectives of the globally dominant neo-liberal order, and Mbeki's place in that world. The book provides a comprehensive study of Mbeki's leadership and its implications for South Africa's future. It assumes that Mbeki will remain the dominant political figure in South Africa until 2009 and that his presidency will permanently mold the destiny of South Africa's political system and culture.