In this Book
- Place of Thorns: Black political protest in Kroonstad since 1976
- Book
- 2015
- Published by: Wits University Press
summary
Place of Thorns: Black Political protest in Kroonstad since 1976, is a landmark study that examines the tumultuous and often fractious politics in Kroonstad’s black townships.
In spite of the town’s relative obscurity, the author demonstrates a rich tradition of civic and political life in its townships and provides a persuasive explanation for the violence unleashed in the 1990s after decades of relative political ‘quiescence’.
Based on scores of life-history interviews, the book illustrates a shift in the political mood from 1976 onwards. Inspired by the philosophies of black consciousness and the Congress movement, students developed a radical attitude and they spearheaded and shaped political protests in the townships up to the 1990s. However, tensions between the local civic associations and the regional and national ANC leadership ultimately cost the ANC the first democratic local government elections in Kroonstad. As a work of revisionist history, this book showcases South Africa’s nuanced liberation history that unfolded in smaller, less known places.
The book is essential reading for scholars and students, and everyone interested in the South African liberation history, ‘local’ histories, political mobilisation and protests.Indexed in Clarivate Analytics Book Citation Index (Web of Science Core Collection)
In spite of the town’s relative obscurity, the author demonstrates a rich tradition of civic and political life in its townships and provides a persuasive explanation for the violence unleashed in the 1990s after decades of relative political ‘quiescence’.
Based on scores of life-history interviews, the book illustrates a shift in the political mood from 1976 onwards. Inspired by the philosophies of black consciousness and the Congress movement, students developed a radical attitude and they spearheaded and shaped political protests in the townships up to the 1990s. However, tensions between the local civic associations and the regional and national ANC leadership ultimately cost the ANC the first democratic local government elections in Kroonstad. As a work of revisionist history, this book showcases South Africa’s nuanced liberation history that unfolded in smaller, less known places.
The book is essential reading for scholars and students, and everyone interested in the South African liberation history, ‘local’ histories, political mobilisation and protests.Indexed in Clarivate Analytics Book Citation Index (Web of Science Core Collection)
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Acknowledgements
- pp. vii-viii
- Abbreviations and acronyms
- pp. ix-x
- Introduction
- pp. 1-7
- 1. Protests before 1976
- pp. 8-43
- Conclusion
- pp. 189-198
- Bibliography
- pp. 199-210
Additional Information
ISBN
9781868146888
Related ISBN(s)
9781868146871, 9781868149070
MARC Record
OCLC
1016807974
Pages
228
Launched on MUSE
2018-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No