Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in the subject history at the University of South Africa. This thesis includes chapters on the role of South African Defence Force in perpetuating the apartheid state; The emergence of conscientious objection: early alliances and issues leading to the formation of the ECC; building the ECC; the campaign takes off; a changing campaign under the state of emergency; the end of the campaign; Changing whites attitudes to conscription as reflected by the white commercial press; Changing white attitudes to conscription as reflected by white popular magazines; The role of graphics in the conscription debate