They tried to be the voice of those who had none A development of the Dutch anti-Apartheid organisations 1959-1976

Abstract

In this thesis the assumption of the 1959-1976 period as an unchanging part of the anti-Apartheid struggle will be refuted using the Dutch case as an example. It positions itself in the field of social movements theory, PR and Public Diplomacy. The three Dutch anti-Apartheid organisations active during this period will be examined in order to recreate the story of development of their domestic actions, PR-strategies, means and foreign contacts. The chapters will argue that all four aspects show a clear path of development through the 1959-1976 period and that therefore the assumption that the period was unchanging is invalid in the Dutch case. The domestic actions of the Dutch anti-Apartheid organisations started out very moderate and focussed on changing the governmental attitude. Over the years the actions became tougher and more proactive. The focus towards popular mobilisation, but old tactics kept being employed. The PR-strategies of the CZA and Kairos were influenced by their Christian origins. A focus on victimhood and a peaceful solution was present until the mid-1970s. The early 1970s saw a break from these Christian origins when the leftist AABN was founded, which focussed more on resistance and used an anti-capitalist strategy. The organisations became more globally orientated, made more use of tactics outside established channels and increased their actions on the cultural front. The foreign contacts of the Dutch anti-Apartheid organisations were not of much concern at the 1960s and only developed in the 1970s. Existing social movements were internationalised and contacts were established with South African (liberation) movements and other national anti-Apartheid organisations. Overall this thesis will show that the Dutch anti-Apartheid organisations did not start out as an international and influential movement. They developed during the 1959-1976 period and created a strong base which the organisations could build on in the following years.