Description
This accessible and concise introduction to South Africa's turbulent history this century is the first to emphasize the social and economic history underlying the political upheavals and the establishment and fitful dismantling of apartheid. Beinart, a leading South Africa historian, begins with the final colonial conquests of the late 19th century and ends with a prognosis for democracy and redistribution of resources in the 1990s. Along the way he considers how popular culture and politics help to explain the rise of Afrikaner and African nationalism, and looks at such key topics as patterns of violence, the significance of ethnicity, and the variety of radical politics and religious expression. Written for the student and general reader, this book will serve as a useful guide to this vital period in twentieth-century history.
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This book provides a stimulating introduction to the history of South Africa in the twentieth century. It draws on the rich and lively tradition of radical history writing on that country and, to a greater extent than previous accounts, weaves economic and cultural history into the political narrative.Apartheid and industrialization, especially mining, are central themes, as is the rise of nationalism in the Afrikaner and African communities. But the author also emphasizes the neglected significance of rural experiences and local identities in shaping political consciousness.The roles played by such key figures as Smuts, Verwoerd, de Klerk, Plaatje, and Mandela are explored, while recent historiographical trends are reflected in analyses of rural protest, white cultural politics, the vitality of black urban life, and environmental decay.The book concludes with an analysis of black reactions to apartheid, the rise of the ANC, and an assessment of the chances of a stable political future for a post-apartheid South Africa.
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