R. W. Johnson (born 1943; Richard William, "Bill" ) is a British journalist, political scientist, and historian who lives in South Africa. Born in England, he was educated at Natal University and Oxford University, as a

Rhodes Scholar The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. Established in 1902, it is the oldest graduate scholarship in the world. It is considered among the world' ...

. He was a fellow in politics at Magdalen College, Oxford, for 26 yearsIvan Fallo
"'South Africa's Brave New World', By R. W. Johnson"
''The Independent'', 17 April 2009 and remains an emeritus fellow. His 2015 book ''Look Back in Laughter: Oxford's Postwar Golden Age'' is a memoir of his years at Magdalen, including his work with college president Keith Griffin to rescue the College's finances and buildings. In reviewing his memoirs, '' The Economist'' described Johnson as a "romantic contrarian liberal". On his return to South Africa in 1995, he became director of the

Helen Suzman Foundation The Helen Suzman Foundation is an independent, non-partisan think-tank in South Africa dedicated to promoting liberal democratic values and human rights in post-apartheid South Africa through its research, publications, litigation and submissions ...

in Johannesburg until 2001. He has been a South Africa correspondent for the London ''

Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...

'' and also written for the ''

London Review of Books The ''London Review of Books'' (''LRB'') is a British literary magazine published twice monthly that features articles and essays on fiction and non-fiction subjects, which are usually structured as book reviews. History The ''London Review of ...

'' His articles for the ''LRB'' generally cover South African and, to a lesser extent, Zimbabwean affairs. In early March 2009, Johnson injured his left foot while swimming. It became infected with necrotizing fasciitis and his leg was amputated above the knee."RW Johnson Loses Part of Leg After Lagoon Swim"
''Book SA - News'', 23 March 2009

Bibliography

* (ed. with Christopher Allen) ''African Perspectives'' (1970) * ''How Long Will South Africa Survive?'' (1977) * ''The Long March of the French Left'' (1981) * ''Shootdown: The Verdict on KAL 007'' (1985) * ''Heroes and Villains: Selected Essays'' (1990) * (ed. with Lawrence Schlemmer) ''Launching Democracy in South Africa: South Africa's First Open Election, April 1994'' (1996) * (ed. with David Welsh) ''Ironic Victory: Liberalism in Post-Liberation South Africa'' (1998) * ''South Africa; The First Man, the Last Nation'' (2004) * ''South Africa's Brave New World: The Beloved Country since the End of Apartheid'' (2009) * ''How Long Will South Africa Survive?: The Looming Crisis'' (2015) * ''Look Back in Laughter: Oxford's Postwar Golden Age'' (2015)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, R. W. 1943 births Living people South African non-fiction writers University of Natal alumni South African Rhodes Scholars South African political scientists Fellows of Magdalen College, Oxford British emigrants to South Africa South African amputees