With the dramatic release of Nelson Mandela in February 1990, South Africa entered a dynamic period of transition: the end of white minority rule is at last in sight, and South Africans of all beliefs and colours are debating their country's future. Drawing on the experience of neighbouring countries and on interviews with politicians, township leaders and businessmen, Sebastian Mallaby, "The Economist"'s Africa correspondent, examines the interlocking conflicts that will determine South Africa's future. He discusses the quest for a new constitution, the problem of AIDS, the continuity of tribal tensions and the threat of a violent white backlash. He also considers what the world should expect from the continent's most sophisticated economy: an East-Asian style powerhouse, or another African disappointment?