Nelson Mandela’s Confused Battle Against Socialism and Interventionism

By Thomas DiLorenzo

Workers of the world unite, keep South Africa white.”
–Slogan of early twentieth-century South African Labor Unions

“South Africa’s apartheid is not the corollary of free-market or capitalist forces.  Apartheid is the result of anti-capitalistic or socialistic efforts to subvert the operation of market (capitalistic) forces.”
–Walter E. Williams, South Africa’s War Against Capitalism

During the twentieth century the worldwide socialist movement attempted to criticize capitalism by associating it with Nazi Germany since the Nazis did not nationalize many industries as the Russian socialists had done (they allowed ostensibly private enterprises that were nevertheless regulated, regimented and controlled by the state).  The truth is that the roots of Nazism or “national socialism” were thoroughly socialistic.  The Nazis were “national” socialists, whereas the Soviets claimed to be international socialists.  The Nazis and the communists were ideological clones who considered the ideas of classical liberalism (free-market capitalism, limited government, low taxes, private property, the rule of law, peace), and those who espoused them, to be their mortal enemy. 

Similarly, the international socialist movement has long attempted to associate another kind of socialist movement – the former South African Apartheid laws – as some kind of abuse of capitalism.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Government-imposed discrimination against black South Africans was instigated by white labor unions associated with various Marxist and communist movements.  It was a pervasive system of government regulation, regimentation and control.  This of course is the exact opposite of free-market capitalism.

It was this form of massive government interventionism that the late Nelson Mandella battled against in his youth, and for which he was imprisoned for twenty-seven years by the South Africa government.  (Unfortunately, Mandella himself was a socialist and a covert member of the executive committee of theSouth African Communist party who idolized such totalitarian monsters as Fidel Castro.  He apparently never understood that it was a version of Castroite socialism that had victimized him and the black population of South Africa, and that what South African blacks needed the most was the economic freedom and opportunity provided by free-market capitalism).

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Isn't it  Funny how the great and Powerful Obama cannot make it to the Veterans memorial on Veterans day but can travel halfway around the world to memorialize a communist. Indeed a man of great Genius...most likely TIME magazines man of the year for the third time. ( not that anyone will read it. )