Contesting Aparthied: U.S. Activism, 1960-1987

by donald culverson

Description

Contesting Apartheid examines how U.S. public and private sector interests produced wealth and poverty in South Africa. It explains how the anti-apartheid movement capitalized on the fragility of the racial regime. It exposes the political vulnerability of the international supporters who had insulated apartheid from policy consideration until the mid-1970s. Contesting Apartheid describes how activists converted civil rights movement ideals, symbols, and strategies into weapons against show more apartheid. They mobilized a grassroots network of groups previously excluded from foreign affairs, and proposes alternatives to uncritical acceptance of South Africa as an anti-Communist ally. The book examines the Sharpeville massacre, the Vietnam War, the Soweto uprisings, and the divestment campaigns. It explores the role played by news media and the intelligentsia in shaping popular perceptions of the crisis. Drawing on diverse sources such as organizational records and published literature, correspondences, interviews, personal papers, and government documents, this study views anti-apartheid activism as central to mainstream American political developments. show less