Drop a frog into boiling or near boiling water. He jumps out. Then put one in cold water with a slow flame. He likes the warmth. He gets comfortable and sleepy. He eventually gets cooked.
History is often seen as pre-determined. Developments occur rather slowly so that, like a frog in warm water, it might not be possible to see what is happening in the long run.
The following text will deal with the question of possible turning points in South African racism history. It will try to figure out when things could have changed in another, possibly better way, and what events prevented that from happening. It will therefore describe the colonisation by the mainly Dutch-speaking Boers in the 17 th and 18 th century and the early relations between colonialists and indigenous population with special reference to the creeping development of racist attitudes. In the second part the systemic period of British colonialism will be investigated. The introduction of a capitalistic system and the influences of the Evangelist Humanitarian Movement will be described first. In the second part the impacts of British capitalism and the discovery of gold and diamonds will be major topics to be analyzed with respects to a development of a racist ideology. Thirdly I will describe the rise of Afrikaner Nationalism mainly in the first five decades of the 20 th century and what root causes underlie this development.
The main questions I will deal with are:
• Was the development of South African racism unavoidable?
• Why did racism develop?
• When had been crucial points in history that could made a different development possible?
Table of Contents
Introduction
Terminology
The Pre-British Era
British Colonialism until 1948
British rule and Evangelist humanitarian movement
The discovery of Diamonds and Gold
Afrikaner Nationalism
Conflicts of the 1920s
The Great Depression and World War II
The Elections of 1948
First Years of Apartheid
Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the historical development of racism and segregation in South Africa, specifically focusing on critical turning points from the colonial era through the inception of the Apartheid regime in 1948. The primary research objective is to investigate whether the emergence of South African racism was an unavoidable outcome of historical circumstances or the result of specific, preventable decisions.
- The influence of Dutch colonization and early colonial labor relations.
- The impact of British capitalism and the discovery of gold and diamonds.
- The ideological rise and political mobilization of Afrikaner nationalism.
- The role of the Great Depression and World War II in shaping segregationist policies.
- The systemic transition toward legalized Apartheid after the 1948 elections.
Excerpt from the Book
The discovery of Diamonds and Gold
The discovery of diamonds in 1867 and gold in 1886 led to a fundamental change in South Africa’s economic and political structure. To speak of this as the most important influence on South African development until today is no hyperbole.
South Africa entered the age of industrialism and capitalism. The economic focus shifted from pre-modern feudalistic and patriarchal Boer agriculture to a British dominated capitalistic mining industry.
Since exploiting the gold and the diamonds was very expensive it could only be done profitably by large companies with the use of cheap labour forces. Mainly unskilled African workers were used, living in strictly controlled compounds close to the mines. White skilled labour was used to supervise the Blacks. The main argument for the capitalist mine owners to only use cheap labourers was that they operated within particular constraints shaped by the fixed price of gold and the low grade of ore. Thus, the proletarianisation of South Africa’s black labour force was initiated (Webster 1978, pp. 9, 18).
Chapter Summary
Introduction: Outlines the core research question regarding whether the development of racism in South Africa was inevitable or shaped by key historical turning points.
Terminology: Defines the nomenclature used in the text, specifically regarding the synonymy of Afrikaners and Boers and the classification of racial and social status groups.
The Pre-British Era: Explores the colonial beginnings under the Dutch East India Company and the early development of labor-intensive farming practices.
British Colonialism until 1948: Analyzes the transition to British capitalist structures and the initial legal framework for indigenous labor control.
First Years of Apartheid: Describes the political climate following the 1948 victory of the National Party and the immediate legislative steps toward systemic racial discrimination.
Conclusion: Summarizes findings, asserting that Apartheid was not a historical necessity but a consequence of specific decisions and evolving political ideologies.
Keywords
South Africa, Apartheid, Afrikaner Nationalism, British Colonialism, Racism, Segregation, Gold Mining, Labor History, 1948 Elections, Social Darwinism, Economic Development, Land Act.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The paper examines the historical trajectory of South African racism, investigating the structural and individual factors that led to the development of the Apartheid regime.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the evolution of labor systems, the transition from agricultural to capitalist mining economies, the rise of nationalist ideologies, and the impact of global conflicts on local policy.
What is the main research question?
The author asks whether the development of South African racism was unavoidable or if there were specific turning points where a different, more egalitarian path could have been taken.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a historical-materialist approach, focusing on economic history, the evolution of colonial and state structures, and the analysis of social ideologies.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body chapters detail the Dutch colonial period, British rule, the economic transformation driven by the mineral revolution, and the political rise of the Afrikaner nationalist movement.
What characterizes the work's keywords?
The keywords highlight the intersections between economic history, such as mining and land rights, and sociopolitical phenomena like nationalism and state-enforced segregation.
How did the discovery of gold influence racism?
Gold mining necessitated a cheap, controlled labor force; this economic demand influenced mine owners and the state to enforce structural segregation and labor policies that prioritized white economic gain over black rights.
What was the significance of the 1948 elections?
The 1948 election victory of the National Party marked the official political shift toward the implementation of comprehensive, state-mandated Apartheid legislation.
- Quote paper
- Enno Dreier (Author), 2003, Watersheds in South African History - The development of Racism throughout centuries, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/21454
