Embracing Machiavelli to Achieve a Liberal Future | The 46th Hoernlé Lecture

The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) proudly presents the 46th Hoernlé Lecture, presented by Professor Hussein Solomon and titled "Embracing Machiavelli to Achieve a Liberal Future".

Since 1948, South Africa has been effectively governed by two dominant political parties – the National Party and the African National Congress. Both were highly centralised parties and believed that they represented all of South Africa. The NP and its malevolent ideology of apartheid brought the country to ruin. The ANC’s reign has been equally ruinous with its endemic corruption and gross incompetence.

In contrast to this stands the liberal tradition. Whilst many liberals assumed that the 2024 election which heralded a Government of National Unity would mean the demise of this dominant party hegemony, the reality is this will not occur smoothly. Inept civil servants will resist any effort to dislodge them from their lucrative posts. The corrupt will fight any attempt at clean governance. For a liberal polity to take root therefore, order has to be established. The path to John Stuart Mill’s liberal utopia, may well mean embracing Niccolo Machiavelli’s Prince.

Please join us for a fascinating talk, accompanied by finger food.

Date: Thursday 06 November 2025

Time: 17:30 for 18:00

Location: Northwards House, 21 Rockridge Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg

Dress code: Smart casual

Limited seats available. Ticket sales close on 6 November, and no tickets will be sold at the door.

If you cannot attend in person, the lecture will be streamed live. Register for the live stream here: https://streamyard.com/watch/M95K6CgckzTh