The demands of our times on the writing of history

Inaugural lecture--Rand Afrikaans University, History Department, 29 August 1968This inaugural lecture deals with the demands made by present times on the writing of history in South Africa. As a background, the changes which have taken place since the Second World War and which have influenced the approach to history in the West are briefly discussed. Then comment is given upon historical problems arising from the much altered international and internal situation of South Africa after 1945, and it is pointed out how certain subjects such as the change to a Republic in 1961, the leaving of the Commonwealth, and the strategic importance of South Africa are being neglected by our historians. Furthermore, it is shown that the history of the European immigration to this country, the relationship between different peoples in a multi-national society, comparative and social histories, the history of the rise of South African cities and the social, cultural and political changes which have accompanied it, still await attention as also the history of ideas, an historical analysis of the mind of the Afrikaner and the English-language speaking people of South Africa. Although considerable work has been carried out in the field of re-interpreting South African history, much still remains to be done. For various reasons the sphere of contemporary history particularly has been neglected. This has resulted in visiting historians of other countries undertaking this field of study, but not doing justice to the traditions of the South African way of life and thought. An appeal is made that these questions relating to the twentieth century South African history in particular be answered, and the possible objections raised against the practise of contemporary history are also dealt with