Namibia's Liberation Struggle
The Two-edged Sword

It took 23 years of armed struggle before Namibia could gain its independence from South Africa in 1990. How this came about, and at what cost, is the subject of this study, which is based on unpublished documents and extensive interviews with a large range of the key activists in the struggle.

It took 23 years of armed struggle before Namibia could gain its independence from South Africa in March 1990. 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 How this came about, and at what cost, is the subject of this study which is based on unpublished documents and extensive interviews with a large range of the key activists in the struggle. The study should be of interest to everyone concerned with southern Africa. Students of armed liberation struggle generally should find much to challenge received wisdom.

Part 1 The struggle: diplomacy by other means - SWAPO's liberation war, Susan Brown
SWAPO - the politics of exile, John S. Saul and Colin Leys
SWAPO inside Namibia, Colin Leys and John S. Saul
the churches, Philip Steenkamp. Part 2 The impact - three studies: the Namibian student movement - its role and effects, Sipho S. Maseko
state and civil society - policing in transition, Colin Leys
war, peace and social classes, Chris Tapscott. Part 3 The legacy: SWAPO in office, Lauren Dobell
the legacy - an afterword, John S. Saul and Colin Leys.