Searching for justice: the pursuit of a liberal tradition in colonial Namibia

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Periodical article

Title:	Searching for justice: the pursuit of a liberal tradition in colonial Namibia
Author:	Botha, Christo
Year:	2013
Periodical:	Journal of Namibian Studies (ISSN 1863-5954)
Volume:	14
Pages:	7-45
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Namibia
Subjects:	liberalism anti-apartheid resistance political change political history
About persons:	Israel Goldblatt (1897-1982) Bryan O'Linn (1927-2015) André Du Pisani Christo Lombard (1948-) Gerhard Karl Hans Tötemeyer
Abstract:	Despite an inauspicious environment in which to operate, the result of a hostile government and an indifferent white community, a small number of individuals managed to actively pursue ideals of justice and respect for basic human rights in colonial Namibia. The absence of an organised political or social tradition that could provide the foundation for the realization of these ideals effectively ensured that these individuals had to largely operate in isolation. In the process much resistance had been encountered, both in the pre- and post-independent phases of Namibian history. This raises the question as to whether the commitment to liberal values, as enshrined in the constitution, will survive the test of time. The personalities that feature in this paper are Israel Goldblatt, Bryan O'Linn, André du Pisani, Christo Lombard and Gerhard Tötemeyer. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]