key term - Pan Africanist Congress (PAC)

Definition

The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) is a South African political party that was founded in 1959 as a breakaway from the African National Congress (ANC), advocating for a more radical approach to achieving black liberation and pan-African unity. The PAC emphasized African nationalism and aimed to promote the rights and interests of Africans in South Africa, particularly against the backdrop of apartheid policies that marginalized the black majority.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The PAC was established in response to what its founders viewed as the ANC's moderate approach to fighting apartheid and advocating for black rights.
2. One of the PAC's most significant actions was the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960, where police opened fire on a peaceful protest against pass laws, resulting in numerous deaths and international outrage.
3. The PAC adopted a more militant stance than the ANC, calling for armed resistance against apartheid and gaining support from various African nationalist movements across the continent.
4. In 1961, the PAC launched its military wing, Poqo, which engaged in acts of sabotage against government facilities and personnel as part of its anti-apartheid struggle.
5. After years of repression under apartheid, the PAC became part of the negotiations that led to South Africa's transition to democracy in the early 1990s, but its influence has waned since then.

Review Questions

• How did the founding principles of the PAC differ from those of the ANC regarding the struggle against apartheid?
  • The PAC was founded on principles of African nationalism and sought a more radical approach compared to the ANC. While the ANC focused on multi-racialism and collaboration with other racial groups, the PAC prioritized black identity and self-determination. This ideological divide led to differing strategies in their fight against apartheid, with the PAC advocating for direct action and armed struggle as opposed to the ANC's initial emphasis on negotiation.
• Evaluate the impact of the Sharpeville Massacre on the PAC's strategy and its place within the broader anti-apartheid movement.
  • The Sharpeville Massacre had a profound impact on the PAC's strategy and elevated its profile within the anti-apartheid movement. The brutal response of security forces during a peaceful protest galvanized public opinion both domestically and internationally against apartheid. In reaction, the PAC intensified its militant tactics through its armed wing Poqo, marking a shift towards direct confrontation with state power. This event also highlighted the urgency for radical approaches among anti-apartheid groups.
• Analyze how the evolution of the PAC reflects broader changes in South African society and politics from apartheid to democracy.
  • The evolution of the PAC mirrors significant shifts within South African society and politics, particularly regarding racial identity and political representation. Initially seen as a key player in resistance against apartheid through its radical stance, its decline in influence post-1994 reflects changing dynamics in a new democratic landscape where issues of reconciliation and integration became paramount. As former rivals like the ANC took center stage, factions like the PAC struggled to redefine their roles, showing how societal needs evolved from liberation to governance within a democratic framework.

Related terms

African National Congress (ANC):

The ANC is a South African political party formed in 1912, known for leading the struggle against apartheid and for its role in establishing a democratic South Africa.

Apartheid: Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s, designed to maintain white dominance.

Black Consciousness Movement: A movement that emerged in the late 1960s in South Africa, focusing on promoting black identity, self-reliance, and pride among black South Africans as a response to apartheid.