A Marxist interpretation of black attempts at political self-definition in South Africa

Abstract

In this article I address the problem of political self-definition in South Africa. I attempt to trace and explain the rise of political consciousness among the black people of South Africa and indicate that the rise of political consciousness was expressed in a Marxist attempt at political self-definition This attempt has conceptual connections with communitarian politics, which explains why it was so easily accepted by black people. Black Consciousness made room for a wider political consciousness which included elements of traditional communitarian politics and elements of Marxism.