Privileged Minorities A History of Wealth Concentration in South Africa

"As the inordinate power of oligarchies in contemporary politics captures global concern, this erudite, accessible book is more than timely. Mesrob Vartavarian makes a cogent case for the disproportionate role of privileged minorities in perpetuating inequality in South Africa before, during, and after colonialism-a role inadequately explained by race or class alone." - Jean Comaroff, Harvard University

"Privileged Minorities reads like a breath of fresh air in the historiography of South Africa. Reminiscent in its overarching theorizing and broad time span of some of the best work of the 1970s and 1980s, the book reflects Mesrob Vartavarian's insights into South African history as a relative newcomer not inhibited by old and ingrained habits. Stimulating in ambition and challenging in interpretation, Privileged Minorities will be welcomed by all scholars of Africa and of economic inequality in the global economy." - William H. Worger, University of California, Los Angeles

"Privileged Minorities presents an original and fresh perspective on South African history focusing on the negotiations between small political elites and wealthy corporate powers rather than on racial or class politics. In concise and accessible language, Mesrob Vartavarian argues that these elites have built their own economic base while leaving South Africa's working majority behind. The book is an important contribution to the ongoing debate over the causes of South Africa's deteriorating situation." - Nancy L. Clark, Louisiana State University

"The extremely unequal distribution of wealth in South Africa is finally getting the attention it deserves. Eschewing simplistic explanations, Mesrob Vartavarian brilliantly traces political developments over more than three hundred years to show how successive privileged elites (both black and white) have monopolized the accumulation of wealth through dispossession, exploitation and state power." - Jeremy Seekings, University of Cape Town

"In this bold and highly original work, Mesrob Vartavarian casts new light on important issues in South African history. In particular, he shows how successive minorities helped entrench inequality by accumulating wealth through dispossession, exploitation, and using state power to exclude others." - Christopher Saunders, University of Cape Town