Abstract
The political direction of Koers, 1933-1961
The journal Koers was founded in 1933 by Afrikaner Calvinists of the Potchefstroom University College for Christian Higher Education. This journal was their main voice for views on political affairs during the period before 1961. This article examines the views of contributors to Koers regarding, inter alia, the political future o f South Africa, the relations between the main racial and cultural groups in the country and international political developments. It is concluded that these views mainly reflect strong nationalist sentiments. Although it was the aim of Koers to point out a Calvinist approach to political issuses, this aim was realised to a very limited extent only. The viewpoints o f Koers differed little from those of Afrikaner nationalists in general. In the years before the Second World War Koers had a stronger republican stance than the political parties to which most Afrikaners belonged. During and after the War L.J. du Plessis and other influential writers in Koers supported the Ossewa-Brandwag, an organization which resembled Fascist political movements in Europe and which, after 1942, opposed the National Party. The failure to distinguish clearly between the aims o f Afrikaner nationalism and Calvinist principles, obstructed Koers in forming its attempt at a Christian perspective on political affairs.
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