Abstract

In this article I look into the Soviet roots of the official policy and ideology of the African National Congress (ANC) the National Democratic Revolution. The article deals with the evolution of the Soviet theory of the national liberation movement, with the history of its adoption first by the South African Communist Party (SACP) and then by the ANC and with the way this theory has been playing itself out in South African politics after the ANC’s coming to power. It offers a historical perspective which helps to understand the ANC’s present policy and politics and the thinking of its leadership. The article is based on documents from both the South African and Russian archives, interviews with participants of events, Russian contemporary publications and a wide range of other published material.