It took twenty-three years of armed struggle before Namibia could gain its independence from South Africa in March 199. Swapo's victory was remarkable in the face of an overwhelmingly superior enemy. How this came about, and at what cost, is the subject of this outstanding study that is based on unpublished documents and extensive interviews with a large range of the key activists in the struggle. The story that emerges is one of endurance and heroism in face of atrocious brutality on the part of the colonialists. But it reveals that it was also one of painful compromises imposed by the conditions of the struggle and the subordination of internal democracy within the liberation movement to the single goal of military and diplomatic victory. The study will be of keen interest to everyone concerned with southern Africa. Students of armed liberation struggle generally will find much to challenge received wisdom. The sheer human interest of the interviews makes the book attractive to a wide readership.
- ISBN10 0821411047
- ISBN13 9780821411049
- Publish Date 1 March 1995 (first published 1 January 1995)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Ohio University Press
- Format Paperback
- Pages 300
- Language English