50 Years of the Freedom Charter

by Suttner, Raymond; Cronin, Jeremy

• ISBN13: 9781842777800
• ISBN10: 1842777807
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Publisher: Zed Books

Summary

50 Years of the Freedom Charter is a revised and expanded edition of an earlier book, 30 Years of the Freedom Charter, which was banned under apartheid. It could no longer be sold and even possessing it could lead to prosecution. The book tells the story of the creation of the Freedom Charter, an unprecedented democratic process in which volunteers travelled throughout the country to hear what ordinary people wanted in their lives and their vision of an alternative, free South Africa. These demands were brought together into the Charter, which was adopted at the Congress of the People in Kliptown on June 26, 1955. This new edition contains the original text of 30 Years and a substantial new introduction dealing with the contemporary significance of the Charter in democratic South Africa.

Author Biography

Raymond Suttner is a former political prisoner who has held leadership positions in the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party and the United Democratic Front. He is currently a researcher attached to the history department of the University of South Africa, Pretoria. Jeremy Cronin is a former political prisoner who is currently deputy general secretary of the South African Communist Party, an ANC national executive committee member, and an ANC MP in the National Assembly.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Nature of the present work, methodology and scope

Rise of the Modern State: From the late Ottoman period to the dictatorship of Saddam Husayn

The Iran-Iraq War: A focus on the social and economic transformations

The Nature of Saddam's Regime: the dynamics of class and tribe

The War in Kuwait: Economic and social factors, and the fate of the Iraqi Opposition

Iraqi Society Under International Sanctions: The realignment of social forces

The U.S. Invasion and Occupation of Iraq: The Dawn of Democracy or the Management of Chaos?

Conclusion: Sum up main themes with some thoughts on the future development

Introduction: Nature of the present work, methodology and scope

Rise of the Modern State: From the late Ottoman period to the dictatorship of Saddam Husayn

The Iran-Iraq War: A focus on the social and economic transformations

The Nature of Saddam's Regime: the dynamics of class and tribe

The War in Kuwait: Economic and social factors, and the fate of the Iraqi Opposition

Iraqi Society Under International Sanctions: The realignment of social forces

The U.S. Invasion and Occupation of Iraq: The Dawn of Democracy or the Management of Chaos?

Conclusion: Sum up main themes with some thoughts on the future development

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