TWE was international condemnation in the 1970s significant in opposition to apartheid?
Intro:
- Culturally significant, politically significant to an extent, not economically significant to a great extent
- Action = widespread & multifaceted, but limited in 1970s – not until 1980s when real change achieved
in all aspects & apartheid system significantly threatened
P1: Culturally significant
- Sporting boycotts
o Stop the Seventy Tour (1969-70) following 1968 D’Oliveira Crisis
Although first mission (rugby tour of Ireland & Britain) was only disrupted, 1970
cricket tour by white SA team to England cancelled, SA expelled from international
test cricket that year
o 1973 Halt All Racist Tours campaign (stopped SA white rugby team to NZ)
o 1977 Commonwealth countries signed Gleneagles (discouraged playing SA)
Significant – international collaboration & action vs individual countries
o Although some tours continued (e.g. SA 1981 tour to NZ), these triggered widespread protest
- International denunciation
o 1973, UNGA condemned apartheid
Left SA increasingly isolated, made people within SA question NP policies
o Protests (e.g. AAM demonstration of 6,000 in London after Soweto)
- Significant because… targeted white SAs, sports = important to Afrikaner culture, disapproval by
countries & individuals, global collaboration, left SA isolated, many groups (trade unions, students,
churches)
- However…
o Not sufficiently widespread to threaten apartheid regime until 1980s, Vorster foreign policy
& Botha ‘Total Strategy’ successful in not leaving SA isolated (allies within Africa)
o Sporting boycotts = successful
P2: Politically significant
- Political prisoners
o SATIS formed 1974 (South Africa, The Imprisoned Society), AAM & IDAF (International
Defence and Aid Fund)
Publicized political trials (increased attention)
Called for release of political prisoners (mobilized public opinion)
o Brought attention to apartheid atrocities
1977 Steve Biko killed, AAM called for inquiry
International protests
o Centered campaign around Mandela – increased scale of support
60th birthday, 1978, 3,000 cards sent (British Labour cabinet sent one
Showed disapproval of apartheid regime, gave ANC hope
However, limited impact – e.g. case of Solomon Mahlangu (20-year-old
who fled SA 1976- he was hanged 1979, although became hero for ANC &
spread awareness, still died)
- Significant because…
o Increased AAM support, brought attention to atrocities, painted NP in bad light
- However…
o Limited impact until 1980s (political prisoners freed)
o Despite this, still significant as brought evolutionary change – 1980s not possible without
1970s action
