Item 1158 - A Ground of struggle: Four decades of archival activism in South Africa

The Archives Activism Report is intended, firstly, to provide an overarching assessment of the scope, state and effects of archival activism and the ways archival activism has shaped public debate and had an impact on perceptions of nationhood and citizenship over the last two decades. Secondly, the new Report highlights the important work done by a small cluster of archival activists in relation to the challenges of reconciliation, social cohesion, social justice and memory building, and the development of political accountability, pointing both to where their reach is constrained, and to the significant impact of the release of strategic records into the public domain. Finally, the Report reflects on what political developments in the three years immediately prior to the Report mean for archival activity, assesses the capacity available to address this, and considers where additional support or initiatives are required.