Sydafrikakommitténs Informationsbulletin : Med en tidning som vapen

• Main Author: Hagelberg Agatin, Lena
• Format: Others
• Language: Swedish
• Published: Uppsala universitet, Historiska institutionen 2017
• Subjects: History; Historia
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-322861

South Africa Committee Information Bulletin - With a periodical as weapon   By studying a single periodical, linked to an organization, during a part of the 1960s, I try to see how and when the socially radicalized wave evolved then is reflected in its development. The periodical, called “South- and South West Africa: Information Bulletin”, was issued by the non-governmental organization South Africa Committee in the university city of Lund in southern Sweden. The periodical had the aim to inform about the conditions and developments in South Africa and was published for five years, 1964-1968. The periodical, which was a collective product for all South Africa Committees in Sweden, was published in a small edition. Each of the contributors engaged worked with it for a shorter period of time and they volunteered. None of the writers are presented in the newspaper, but virtually all articles are signed. Only one of the contributors is involved in the work with the periodical throughout the period. By studying the language used, choice of analysis model and choice of topics, I try to illustrate the development of the periodical. I find that social radicalization is well reflected during the given years. It begins to be especially apparent at the end of the second edition, 1965. This is when the writers start using words as "struggle organization" and ANC is called a "liberation movement", one of all other liberation movements in the region. Towards the end of the release period, the vocabulary begins also to reflect the Marxist doctrine. Even imperialism and other phenomena are highlighted. Radicalization is also noted in the choice of subjects. Another tendency is the shift from mainly descriptive to more political articles. Further an increasing interest is focused on Swedish companies operating in South Africa. The enemy is no longer only the South African apartheid regime, but increasingly the United States, the World Bank, the Swedish government and, finally, the LO (the main Swedish Trade Union). During the last two years' sporadic publication, the periodical has been completely transformed into becoming a radical voice in the general press debate. The radicalization that takes place in the organization periodical takes place gradually and, as it seems, parallel with the rest of society. The transformation from being an information pamphlet to becoming a kind of megaphone, used as a platform in the general debate in the country, indicates that the periodical became an active part of the social transformation that continued in the mid and late 1960s.