Original Research
The radicalisation of a Swedish ecclesiastical critic of apartheid – Gunnar Helander
Koers - Bulletin for Christian Scholarship/Bulletin vir Christelike Wetenskap | Vol 76, No 4 | a417 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/koers.v76i4.417
| © 2011 F. Hale
| This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 10 September 2011 | Published: 10 September 2011
Submitted: 10 September 2011 | Published: 10 September 2011
About the author(s)
F. Hale, School of Ecclesiastical Sciences, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, South Africa & Beijing International Studies, University Beijing, ChinaFull Text:
PDF (258KB)Abstract
From the 1950s through the 1980s, both the government of Sweden and various non-governmental agencies in that country stood at the forefront of the international campaign against apartheid. To a considerable extent, representatives of the Church of Sweden Mission were involved in this struggle. Among them was Gunnar Helander (1915-2006), a missionary in Natal and on the Witwatersrand from 1938 until 1956. After he returned permanently to Sweden, his role escalated and became known internationally, especially due to his prominence in the leadership of the International Defence and Aid Fund. Between 1949 and 1986 Helander wrote seven novels set in South Africa. In these works one can trace the unfolding of his position on apartheid, which evolved from mild criticism of race relations in South Africa to advocacy of international subversion of the P.W. Botha regime.
Keywords
Apartheid; Church Of Sweden Mission; Gunnar Helander; International Defence And Aid Fund; Racial Stereotypes
Metrics
Total abstract views: 1416Total article views: 1716
Reader Comments
Before posting a comment, read our privacy policy.Post a comment (login required)