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Nonviolent resistance to Apartheid 1945-1994

Nonviolent resistance to Apartheid 1945-1994. By Nick Jackson. ‘ ‘ Probably the largest grassroots eruption of diverse nonviolent strategies in a single struggle in human history .’’ (Wink, 1987). Structure. Historical background The Apartheid state Resistance in the early years of Apartheid

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Nonviolent resistance to Apartheid 1945-1994

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  1. Nonviolent resistance to Apartheid 1945-1994 By Nick Jackson

  2. ‘‘ Probably the largest grassroots eruption of diverse nonviolent strategies in a single struggle in human history.’’ (Wink, 1987)

  3. Structure • Historical background • The Apartheid state • Resistance in the early years of Apartheid • Black Consciousness Movement • UDF, COSATU, ANC, and the end of Apartheid • Some questions…

  4. 1)Historical Background (1685-1948) • 1685 Marriage Law • Mid C19, wealth determined franchise • 1910 Union of SA-consolidation of European power • 1913 Native Lands Act-Turning point • ANC (African National Congress) formed 1912-legal battles • 1948 National Party Victory

  5. 2)Key Apartheid legislation • 1949 Prohibition of Marriages Act, 1950 Immorality Act • 1950 Population Registration Act-White, Black Coloured, Indian • 1950 Group Areas Act (The three key pillars of the Apartheid state) • But other important legislation too

  6. 3)Early Apartheid and the ANC • Defiance Campaign(1952) ‘dignity, equality and freedom to every South African’. 10,000 transgressed segregation laws, many imprisoned • Govt. suppression • 1954 Freedom Charter, ‘The people shall govern’

  7. PAC, Sharpeville, Violence • PAC(1959)-mass protests against pass laws • 21st March 1960 Sharpeville Massacre • Was it non-violent? • ANC changed tactic- Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) • Mandela’s criticism of non-violence

  8. 4)Black Consciousness Movement(BCM) • Revival of non-violent resistance? • Reject ideology, then system • Liberate minds • Redefined Black • Excluded whites • Soweto Uprising(1976)-against imposition of Afrikaans • BCM lost momentum, had achieved goals, no future strategy

  9. 5)United Democratic Front (UDF) • Formed August 20, 1983 • Co-ordinate local struggles into national issues • Umbrella for 565 organisations at its start to 700 at its peak • Grassroots=strength • 1984 election boycott success • Undermine state control in communities • People Power

  10. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) • Dependence on black labour=leverage • Political and economic battle • Link smaller industrial issues to larger problems • Strikes and stayaways • Hurt white business, undermine Apartheid’s power • Leadership in campaign 1988- Mass Democratic Movement

  11. ANC • Never a genuine threat to regime through its violence • Increasingly popular • Historical leader of movement • Iconic figures

  12. Other • Whites • The Church • International Pressure The end of Apartheid

  13. 6)Some Questions • What were the main fault-lines in the apartheid regime that could be opened up through nonviolent resistance? • Assess Nelson Mandela’s critique of nonviolent resistance – how valid was it in the circumstances? • How did the Black Consciousness movement led by Steve Biko in the 1970s relate to nonviolent resistance? • How did the United Democratic Front (UDF), which was launched in 1983, relate to nonviolence? • Given the strength of the apartheid state, which forms of nonviolent resistance proved most effective in the long term? • What brought the eventual downfall of the apartheid regime? Was it influenced by the growing violence in the townships, with ‘necklacing’ of collaborators and so on? Were nonviolent forms of resistance more important? What was the role of international pressure on the apartheid regime? • Essay question-‘Non-violent resistance proved far more effective than violent resistance in overthrowing the apartheid regime in South Africa.’ Discuss

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