South Africa's 'Border War': Contested Narratives and Conflicting Memories (War, Culture and Society)

"South Africa's 'Border War' provides a timely study of the 'war of words' waged by retired South African Defence Force (SADF) generals and other veterans against critics and detractors. The book explores the impact of the 'Border War' on South African culture and society during apartheid and in the new dispensation and discusses the lasting legacy or 'afterlife' of the war in great detail. It also offers an appraisal of the secondary literature of the 'Border War', supplemented by archival research, interviews and an analysis of articles, newspaper reports, reviews and blogs. Adopting a genuinely multidisciplinary approach that borrows from the study of history, literature, visual culture, memory, politics and international relations, South Africa's 'Border War' is an important volume for anyone interested in the study of war and memory or the modern history of South Africa."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents Preface Acknowledgements Figures Glossary of Abbreviations, Acronyms and Terms Introduction The nomenclature of the Border War Mnemonic communities and memory wars Synopses of chapters 1 Writing on the Wrong Side of History? SADF Soldier-Authors Reclaim the Border War We were there: The authority of the soldiers’ witness Subaltern narratives: Conscripts’ confessions and catharsis The SADF’s reputation: Setting the record straight Conclusion 2 The Cultural Construction of Combat: Narrative Templates of the Border War Cultural codes and the transnational tradition of war writing Universal war themes Common themes in Vietnam and Border War literature Conclusion 3 Codes of Conduct in Captivity: Narratives of South African POWs in Angola, 1975–1978 Capture and exposure Conditions of captivity POW politicking on the home front Release and homecoming Readjusting to civilian life Conclusion 4 Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Victimhood: A South African War Veteran’s Story At Thy Call We Did Not Falter: A war memoir Memoir writing as narrative therapy PTSD as an alibi among SADF veterans SADF veterans as victims Conclusion 5 The Battle for Cassinga: Competing Narratives and Complicating Histories The SADF story The SWAPO story Complicating the Cassinga controversy Conclusion 6 The Battle of Cuito Cuanavale: Successful Stalemate and Vicarious Victory A war without victors or vanquished Mythicizing and commemorating Cuito Cuanavale Winning the war, losing the memory battle (or vice versa) The victors write history – or do they? Conclusion 7 Digging Up the Past: Revisiting the 1989 Namibian Ceasefire Violation Skeletons in the closet: The (Re)discovery of mass graves Flouting the rules: SWAPO’s violation of the 1989 ceasefire Enemies of a kind? SWAPO and the South African security forces The denouement of a ‘dirty war’ Conclusion 8 The Spectre of Vietnam: Lessons and Legacies of the Border War Analogies and metaphors The lessons of Vietnam The aftermath of lost wars Conclusion 9 The Freedom Park Fracas: Commemorating and Memorializing the Border War A forgotten memorial? The SADF memorial at Klapperkop Site of struggle: Freedom park’s wall of names The SADF memorial wall in the Voortrekker Monument precinct Discursive struggles and the politics of memory Conclusion 10 Fictive Kinship: The National Service Generation and Veteran Networks Veterans and the politics of victimhood SADF veterans: A (ma)lingering militarized identity? SADF veterans as a virtual community Discursive laagers and dissent: The dissonance of disembodied voices Conclusion Conclusion Coming to terms with the past Consensus or contested coexistence? Notes Bibliography Index South Africa's Past Is Contested. Antagonists In These 'memory Wars' Construct Histories That Validate Their Actions And Discredit Those Of Their Erstwhile Enemies. [this Book] Provides A Timely Study Of The Battle Waged By Apologists For The South African Defence Force (sadf) Against Critics And Detractors. The Book Explores The Lasting Impact Of The 'border War' On South African Culture And Society, With Particular Emphasis On Sadf Veterans. It Also Critiques The Victim-perpetrator Dichotomy Posited By The Truth And Reconciliation Commission That Has Informed Public Discourse About The Apartheid Era. The Author Offers An Appraisal Of The Secondary Literature Of The 'border War', Supplemented By Archival Research, Interviews And An Analysis Of Articles, Newspaper Reports, Reviews And Blogs. Adopting A Genuinely Multidisciplinary Approach That Borrows From The Study Of History, Literature, Visual Culture, Memory, Politics And International Relations, Baines Has Produced A Seminal Text On The Study Of War And Memory, As Well As The Modern History Of South Africa. --back Cover. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Writing On The Wrong Side Of History? Sadf Soldier-authors Reclaim The Border War -- 2. The Cultural Construction Of Combat: Narrative Templates Of The Border War -- 3. Codes Of Conduct In Captivity: Narratives Of South African Pows In Angola, 1975 -- 1978 -- 4. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder And Victimhood: A South African War Veteran's Story -- 5. The Battle For Cassinga: Competing Narratives And Complicating Histories -- 6. The Battle Of Cuito Cuanavale: Successful Stalemate And Vicarious Victory -- 7. Digging Up The Past: Revisiting The 1989 Namibian Ceasefire Violation -- 8. The Spectre Of Vietnam: Lessons And Legacies Of The Border War -- 9. The Freedom Park Fracas: Commemorating And Memorializing The Border War -- 10. Fictive Kinship: The National Service Generation And Veteran Networks. Gary Baines. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.