Afrikaner nationalist politics and anti-communism, 1937-1945
Date
1991
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT:
This study is an analysis of the origins and early evolution of
the conception of a communist menace in South African politics.
While anti-communist sentiments in the South African political
arena does not know any racial or ethnic bounds, it was in the
context of white and, more specifically, Afrikaner nationalist
politics that the conception of a communist menace, during the
latter half of the 1930's, developed a stature and character
which placed it on a level distinctively different from earlier
references to this perceived menace. Chapter One discusses some
of the functions of remarks on communism before 1937.
Of importance in this analysis is not simply anti-communism as
a political sentiment or an indication of political preference,
but rather the origins of a specific kind of anti-communism
which developed into an organic part of the larger ideology of
Afrikaner nationalism. In this regard attention is focussed on
the content, place and role of anti-communism in the main
political embodiments of Afrikaner nationalism between 1937 and
May 1945, viz. the Gesuiwerde/Herenigde Nasionale Party, the
Ossewa-Brandwag, New Order and the Greyshirt-movement.
Relating to the content, place and role of anti-communism in
the aforementioned organisations, the evolution thereof was
affected by a multiplicity of factors which, included, inter
alia, the following: World War II, a variety of ideological
elements relating to communism as well as other ideologies,
differences between Afrikaner nationalist oppositional
groupings, campaigns against Smuts and the ruling United Party
and specific campaigns e.g. the colour question. Chapters Two,
Three and Four discusses some of these elements.
Chapters Five and Six discusses the three main component parts
of the campaign against communism, namely the Colour Question,
2
Jewish Immigration and the promotion of Christian-nationalist
trade unionism as alternative to the perceived communist
approach. While the campaign against alleged Jewish compassion
for communism had already reached a climax prior to the
outbreak of war in 1939, the struggle for the "soul" of the
Afrikaner working class and the integration of the 'red menace'
(communism) and the 'black peril' (the colour question)
progressively grew in stature. Particularly the integration of
overt anti-communism and the colour question serves to
illustrative the earlier referred to character of anticommunism
as an organic part of the ideology of Afrikaner
nationalism.
In conclusion, some remarks are presented on the functional
role of anti-communism in Afrikaner nationalist as well as
South African society between 1937 and 1948. Given the fact
that this dissertation is a study of conceptions and does not
aim to evaluate the factual content or even fairness of remarks
attributed to communism, these comments, by nature, will have
to be of a tentative nature.
AFRIKAANS ABSTRACT: Hierdie verhandeling is In studie van die oorsprong en vroee ontwikkeling van die konsepsie van In kommunistiese bedreiging in die Suid-Afrikaanse politiek. Ofskoon anti-kommunistiese uitsprake in die Suid-Afrikaanse politiek nie gebonde is aan enige ras- of kleurgrens nie, was dit tog binne die kader van blanke politiek en, meer spesifiek, die ontwikkelende Afrikaner nasionalisme, waar die konsepsie van In kommunistiese bedreiging, gedurende die dertigerjare, In statuur en karakter van sy eie ontwikkel het. Hierdeur is antikommunisme verhef tot In vlak wat fundamenteel verskillend was van vroedre uitsprake. Hoof stuk Een bespreek van die funksies van overte anti-kommunisme voor 1937. Van belang in hierdie studie is nie net anti-kommunisme as politieke sentiment of as aanduiding van politieke voorkeur nie, maar veel eerder die oorsprong van In spesifieke soort anti-kommunisme wat ontwikkel het tot In organiese deel van die groter geheel van Afrikaner nasionalisme. In die verband word aandag geskenk aan die inhoud, plek en rol van anti-kommunisme in die meer prominente politieke bewegings wat hul vereenselwig het met die ideale van Afrikaner nasionalisme, nl. die Gesuiwerde/Herenigde Nasionale Party, Ossewa-Brandwag, Nuwe Orde en die Gryshemp-beweging. Met verwysing na die inhoud, plek en rol van anti-kommunisme in bovermelde bewegings, is die ontwikkeling daarvan beinvloed deur In verskeidenheid van faktore wat, onder andere, ingesluit het die Tweede Wereldoorlog, In verskeidenheid elemente wat betrekking gehad het op kommunisme sowel as ander ideologied en spesifieke beleidsaspekte by. die kleurvraagstuk. Hoof stukke Twee, Drie en Vier bespreek van hierdie faktore. Financial support from the Institute for Research Development (IRD) of the Human Sciences Research Council are hereby greatfully acknowledged. Opinions expressed in this study and conclusions drawn are those of the author and should not be attributed to the IRD or Human Sciences Research Council.
AFRIKAANS ABSTRACT: Hierdie verhandeling is In studie van die oorsprong en vroee ontwikkeling van die konsepsie van In kommunistiese bedreiging in die Suid-Afrikaanse politiek. Ofskoon anti-kommunistiese uitsprake in die Suid-Afrikaanse politiek nie gebonde is aan enige ras- of kleurgrens nie, was dit tog binne die kader van blanke politiek en, meer spesifiek, die ontwikkelende Afrikaner nasionalisme, waar die konsepsie van In kommunistiese bedreiging, gedurende die dertigerjare, In statuur en karakter van sy eie ontwikkel het. Hierdeur is antikommunisme verhef tot In vlak wat fundamenteel verskillend was van vroedre uitsprake. Hoof stuk Een bespreek van die funksies van overte anti-kommunisme voor 1937. Van belang in hierdie studie is nie net anti-kommunisme as politieke sentiment of as aanduiding van politieke voorkeur nie, maar veel eerder die oorsprong van In spesifieke soort anti-kommunisme wat ontwikkel het tot In organiese deel van die groter geheel van Afrikaner nasionalisme. In die verband word aandag geskenk aan die inhoud, plek en rol van anti-kommunisme in die meer prominente politieke bewegings wat hul vereenselwig het met die ideale van Afrikaner nasionalisme, nl. die Gesuiwerde/Herenigde Nasionale Party, Ossewa-Brandwag, Nuwe Orde en die Gryshemp-beweging. Met verwysing na die inhoud, plek en rol van anti-kommunisme in bovermelde bewegings, is die ontwikkeling daarvan beinvloed deur In verskeidenheid van faktore wat, onder andere, ingesluit het die Tweede Wereldoorlog, In verskeidenheid elemente wat betrekking gehad het op kommunisme sowel as ander ideologied en spesifieke beleidsaspekte by. die kleurvraagstuk. Hoof stukke Twee, Drie en Vier bespreek van hierdie faktore. Financial support from the Institute for Research Development (IRD) of the Human Sciences Research Council are hereby greatfully acknowledged. Opinions expressed in this study and conclusions drawn are those of the author and should not be attributed to the IRD or Human Sciences Research Council.
Description
Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1991.
Page 106 of digitised copy appears faded on bottom of page due to scanning.
Page 106 of digitised copy appears faded on bottom of page due to scanning.
Keywords
Nationalism -- South Africa -- History, Anti-communist movements -- South Africa -- History -- 20th century, Dissertations -- History