Shifting patterns of political discourse in the new South Africa¹

Eric Louw was a United Democratic Front activist in the 1980s. This article represents his personal exploration of transformations taking place in contemporary South Africa.

Since February, 1990, a remarkable series of shifts have occurred in the discourses used by the central political players in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) and the National Party (NP). This article examines the two key political discourses of the 1980s, namely the NP's apartheid and the UDF's (ANC internal‐wing) non‐racialism. Then the shifts that have occurred since 1990 are traced. It will be argued that by the end of 1992 the ANC had effectively moved from non‐racialism into a black (African) nationalism, while the NP had shifted from Afrikaner nationalism (and apartheid) to a form of non‐racialism. An attempt is made to explain these shifts.

Notes

Eric Louw was a United Democratic Front activist in the 1980s. This article represents his personal exploration of transformations taking place in contemporary South Africa.