ABSTRACT
The central concern is the ways in which extra-parliamentary opposition movements in twentieth-century South Africa (pre-1990) tried to resolve the tensions and dilemmas, theoretical and political, emanating from the race-class conundrum. There have been two main dimensions to the problem: first, what should be the prime target of opposition – racial oppression or class exploitation? Second, what would be the most effective means of opposition – racial mobilization or class struggle? Movements that opted for a race-based strategy, directed at racial oppression, achieved some short-term gains, but were ultimately compelled to modify their approach and make concessions to class analysis. Similarly organizations geared towards class struggle could never escape the realities of racial division and oppression, and were forced to compromise their principles and strategies. Throughout its history the African National Congress avoided taking firm stances one way or the other. It mastered the politics of equivocation and compromise, operating as a ‘broad church’, accommodating a variety of political tendencies. This was both a strength and a weakness, which enabled the organization to enjoy wide support but also creating the potential for internal division – a danger still faced by the Tripartite Alliance today.
