White Power & the Rise and Fall of the National Party

A unique lens through which to analyse the demise of the National Party: written by a woman and using class analysis - the two decisive “missing links” in Afrikaner history- writing. - Antjie Krog

In 2006, almost a hundred years after the founding of the National Party, the unthinkable happened: the once mighty party of apartheid collapsed into the African National Congress, its sworn enemy for almost a century.

While a string of blunders saw party support plummet-ing, such a humiliating end was wholly unexpected. Is it true that the NP's leaders had betrayed their supporters? What role did the NP play during the negotiations to ensure increased wealth among the black and white South African elite? And is greater material welfare enough to keep Afrikaners satisfied, or are we seeing a resurgence of Afrikaner nationalism? These and other issues are addressed in White Power & the Rise and Fall of the National Party. Vast in scope and details, this book provides an overview of South African politics and society from 1900 to the present. It covers debates on apartheid abuses, the 'leaders' betrayal' and collaboration with the ANC. It will be of interest to all readers wanting to understand South African politics during the democratic transition, whether they previously supported or opposed the NP.

About the author:
Christi van der Westhuizen is an author, media columnist and public scholar. Her working life started in journalism at the anti-apartheid newspaper Vrye Weekblad. Christi is a regular contributor to News24, The Conversation, Daily Maverick, Sunday Times and Netwerk24, among others, and is an active participant in radio and TV debates, including on RSG, Radio 702/567, SAfm, SABC 3, BBC and Al-Jazeera.
Her most recent book Sitting Pretty: White Afrikaans Women in Postapartheid South Africa (UKZN Press) was published in 2017, and she contributed to Nasty Women Talk Back - Feminist Essays on the Global Women's Marches (2018, Imbali) and Die Braambos Bly Brand. Nie-Teoloë se Perspektiewe op Bybelverse (Naledi, 2018).