Harry Oppenheimer: Diamonds, gold and dynasty: by Michael Cardo, Johannesburg and Cape Town, Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2023, xxiv + 526 pp., illus., £20.50 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-86842-801-4.

The article focuses on Michael Cardo's comprehensive study of Harry Oppenheimer, a significant figure in South Africa's mining industry and corporate politics. Utilizing private family papers and public records, Cardo portrays Oppenheimer as a business statesman who sought to integrate South Africa...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Business History Vol. 67; no. 8; pp. 2232 - 2235
Autor principal: Vartavarian, Mesrob
Formato: Book Review
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Nov2025
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The article focuses on Michael Cardo's comprehensive study of Harry Oppenheimer, a significant figure in South Africa's mining industry and corporate politics. Utilizing private family papers and public records, Cardo portrays Oppenheimer as a business statesman who sought to integrate South Africa into the global capitalist framework while navigating the complexities of apartheid. The analysis highlights Oppenheimer's efforts to accommodate Afrikaner capitalists and his eventual shift towards advocating for universal suffrage, although it critiques the limitations of his liberalism and the role of corporate interests in maintaining the status quo. The book also discusses the interplay between Oppenheimer's corporate strategies and the broader socio-political landscape, emphasizing the influence of business on South Africa's transition from apartheid.