'n Terugkeer na die "veilige laer": die politek van regse blanke vrese, 1988-1989.
Loading...
Date
2013
Authors
Du Bruyn, Derek
Wessels, André
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
In this article the politics of right-wing fears in the years 1988 and 1989 (i.e. on the cusp of the new
political dispensation in South Africa) is analysed. Right-wing politics is compared with the tendency
to move to the right in the governing National Party of the time, and contrasted with events in the
black political arena; including increasing political unrest and concomitant violence, as well as blackon-
black violence. The years 1988 and 1989 were indeed of great significance in the history of South
Africa, with PW Botha’s resignation as State President in 1989 paving the way for the watershed events
of 1990 and the eventual establishment of a new political dispensation in the country. Issues that are
addressed in the article also include the growing tension between the more moderate and more militant
right-wing whites; the reasons why far-right whites became ever more militant; the ways in which black
people were stereotyped by right-wing whites, and the growth in support for the Conservative Party. The
role that fear played in election propaganda is discussed, with special reference to the 1989 “general”
election; i.e. the last election in which black people were barred from taking part.
Description
Keywords
Fear, Right-wing politics, National Party, Conservative Party, PW Botha, FW de Klerk, Political violence
Citation
Du Bruyn, D., & Wessels, A. (2013). 'n Terugkeer na die "veilige laer": die politek van regse blanke vrese, 1988-1989. Journal of Contemporary History, 38(1), 100-125.