Beschreibung
This new approach to the social history of Afrikaner nationalism looks
into the diverse causes for the rise of a political movement which was to
shape South African history profoundly during the 20th Century. In the
1930s Afrikaner nationalism transformed itself from a populist into a
cultural nationalism, becoming politically radicalised at the same time.
The nationalist symbol of the oxwagon was used not only by the National
Party, but also by the extra- and antiparliamentarian mass movement
Ossewabrandwag, which was founded in 1939. Drawing on a broad range of
archival resources the social history of this extremist organisation is
analysed, showing local and regional differences. The Ossewabrandwag as a
nationalist movement counted a considerable part of the Afrikaans white
population among its members. Therefore, the Ossewabrandwag can be
understood approprately only in the context of radical Afrikaner
nationalism. Given that the potential for political radicalisation in the
white South African population was considerable, ideological influences
from overseas played merely an additional role. The author looks into the
reasons for the mass participation in the Ossewabrandwag. In addition he
analyses the organisation’s fight with the National Party and its illegal
and treasonable activities. In this context he discusses which ideological
influences on the apartheid policy can be identified as coming from
organised right wing extremism.
Christoph Marx is Professor for Extra-European history at the University
of Duisburg-Essen.
Photograph: Ossewabrandwag Archives at the University of the North West
