Research Catalog

Title

Everyday Communists in South Africa's liberation struggle : the lives of Ivan and Lesley Schermbrucker / Alan Kirkaldy.

Author

Kirkaldy, A.

Publication

Cham, Switzerland : Palgrave Macmillan, [2022]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

xviii, 386 pages : illustrations (black and white); 21 cm.

Summary

This book explores the role of social movements in the Southern African liberation struggle, through the lens of two everyday communists. Focusing on the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA), the author explores the lives of Ivan and Lesley Schermbrucker, whose contribution to the party was more clandestine than that of leaders such as Bram Fischer and Joe Slovo. They represent how ordinary people could play significant roles based on stances more rooted in common decency and morality than in Marxist theory. The book also sheds light on the interplay between transnational and national tendencies during the liberation movement, particularly between the 1940s and the 1960s. The Schermbruckers changed their views in response to the shifting national and international political landscape, the rise of Stalinism, and the flight of South African activists into exile from the 1960s. Both fluent in African languages, they were able to create relationships of trust with African members of the CPSA. Examining tensions and conflicts during the liberation struggle, this book provides fresh insights into underground activism. Alan Kirkaldy is Associate Professor and Head of the History Department at Rhodes University, South Africa. He has previously published works on the Kalk Bay fishing community and Venda history. Alan has lectured on African and environmental history since 1989. Much of his teaching has focused on liberation movements.

Series Statement

Palgrave studies in the history of social movements

Uniform Title

Palgrave studies in the history of social movements.

Subject

• Schermbrucker, Ivan
• Schermbrucker, Lesley
• Communist Party of South Africa
• 1948-1994
• Anti-apartheid movements > South Africa > History
• Anti-apartheid movements
• Politics and government
• South Africa > Politics and government > 1948-1994
• South Africa

Genre/Form

History.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

1. Introduction -- 2. The Socio-Political Context: Finding Communism and Ivan and Lesley's Early Years -- 3. Partners in Activism: Ivan and Lesley -- 4. Tightening Repression: Increasing Involvement, Surveillance and Detention -- 5. The Trial of Bram Fischer and Thirteen Others -- 6. Women Picking up the Spear: Lesley's Increasing Involvement, Arrest and Trial -- 7. Prison Life -- 8. Aftermath.

Call Number

ReCAP 22-1511

ISBN

• 9783030839208
• 3030839206

OCLC

1259587170

Author

Kirkaldy, A., author.

Title

Everyday Communists in South Africa's liberation struggle : the lives of Ivan and Lesley Schermbrucker / Alan Kirkaldy.

Publisher

Cham, Switzerland : Palgrave Macmillan, [2022]

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Series

Palgrave studies in the history of social movements

Palgrave studies in the history of social movements.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Chronological Term

1948-1994

Research Call Number

ReCAP 22-1511