Liberalism in South Africa

Encyclopedia : L : LI : LIB : Liberalism in South Africa

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part of the Politics series
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This article gives an overview of liberal parties in South Africa. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. For inclusion in this scheme it isn't necessary so that parties labeled themselves as a liberal party.

Contents

1 Introduction
2 The timeline

2.1 South African Liberal Party
2.2 From Progressive Party to Democratic Alliance

3 Liberal leaders
4 Liberal thinkers
5 References
6 See also

Introduction

Liberalism was not organized in South Africa until 1953, although there was some liberal tradition in parties present at the time. This changed in 1953 with the formation of the anti-Apartheid South African Liberal Party, which was multi-racial. A second liberal tradition started in 1959 with the forming of the Progressive Party.

The timeline

South African Liberal Party

1953: The South African Liberal Party is formed by Alan Paton
1968: The SALP is outlawed by the Apartheid regime

From Progressive Party to Democratic Alliance

Progressives or Democrats

1959: Liberal members of the conservative United Party seceded and formed the liberal Progressive Party. The parliamentary party is led by Helen Suzman
1975: The party absorbed the Reform Party, a faction of the United Party, and became the Progressive Reform Party
1977: After the dissolution of the United Party, former members merged into the PRP, which is renamed the Progressive Federal Party
1988: The PFP merged with the newly founded National Democratic Movement and the Independent Party into the Democratic Party
2000: The DP merged with the conservative New National Party into an alliance, the Democratic Alliance.
2001: The NNP left the alliance and the DP continued as the present-day Democratic Alliance

Liberal leaders

United Party: Jan Smuts
South African Liberal Party: Alan Paton
Progressive Federal Party: Helen Suzman
Democratic Alliance: Colin Eglin - Tony Leon

Liberal thinkers

In the Contributions to liberal theory the following South African thinker is included:

Alan Paton (1903-1988)

References

p.m.