The South African intelligence services: From apartheid to democracy, 1948-2005

Kevin A. O'Brien*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/ReportBookpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This book is the first full history of South African intelligence and provides a detailed examination of the various stages in the evolution of South Africa's intelligence organizations and structures. Covering the apartheid period of 1948-90, the transition from apartheid to democracy of 1990-94, and the post-apartheid period of new intelligence dispensation from 1994-2005, this book examines not only the apartheid government's intelligence dispensation and operations, but also those of the African National Congress, and its partner, the South African Communist Party (ANC/SACP) - as well as those of other liberation movements and the 'independent homelands' under the apartheid system. Examining the civilian, military and police intelligence structures and operations in all periods, as well as the extraordinarily complicated apartheid government's security bureaucracy (or 'securocracy') and its structures and units, the book discusses how South Africa's Cold War 'position' influenced its relationships with various other world powers, especially where intelligence co-operation came to bear. It outlines South Africa's regional relationships and concerns - the foremost being its activities in South-West Africa (Namibia) and its relationship with Rhodesia through 1980. Finally, it examines the various legislative and other governance bases for the existence and operations of South Africa's intelligence structures - in all periods - and the influences that such activities as the Rivonia Trial (at one end of the history) or the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (at the other end) had on the evolution of these intelligence questions throughout South Africa's modern history. This book will be of great interest to all students of South African politics, intelligence studies and international politics in general.

Original languageEnglish
PublisherTaylor and Francis Ltd
Number of pages301
ISBN (Electronic)9780203840610
ISBN (Print)0203840615, 9780415433976
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2010

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The South African intelligence services: From apartheid to democracy, 1948-2005'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this