The unwinding of apartheid : UK-South African relations, 1986-1990 / edited by Patrick Salmon ; assisted by Martin Jewitt

Published:: London : Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2019.
Copyright Date:: ©2019
Physical Description:: lxi, 408 pages, 5 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 24 cm.
Additional Creators:: Salmon, Patrick, 1952- and Jewitt, Martin

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Contents:

Machine generated contents note: I.Sanctions and Stalemate August 1986 -- December 1987 -- II.The Long Haul January 1988 -- January 1989 -- III.From P.W. Botha to F.W. de Klerk January -- November 1989 -- IV.The Release of Nelson Mandela December 1989 -- July 1990.

Summary:

This volume examines diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and South Africa from 1986 to 1990, when deadlock gave way to the first stages in the unwinding of apartheid. By the middle of 1986, the South African Government had succeeded in containing the township revolt, but its hesitant moves towards reform had brought the end of apartheid no closer. The intransigent figure of President P.W. Botha ensured a continuing stalemate until his reluctant departure from office in August 1989. The subsequent election of F.W. de Klerk marked the beginning of irrevocable change, symbolised by the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in February 1990. This volume documents the role of the United Kingdom in keeping pressure on the South African Government, building contacts with the African National Congress (ANC) and giving decisive encouragement to President de Klerk's reform initiatives. It reveals recurrent differences of approach between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. However, it also shows that despite her frequent confrontations with the international community in general, and the Commonwealth in particular, Mrs Thatcher repeatedly brought pressure to President Botha and strongly supported President de Klerk during his first crucial months in office. Her part in bringing about change in South Africa was fully appreciated by Nelson Mandela, whose first meeting with Mrs Thatcher concludes the volume. This book will be of much interest to students of British politics, African studies, foreign policy and International Relations in general.

Subject(s):

Apartheid—South Africa—History—20th century—Sources
Apartheid—South Africa—History—20th century
Race relations
Great Britain—Foreign relations—South Africa—Sources
South Africa—Foreign relations—Great Britain—Sources
South Africa—Race relations—History—20th century—Sources
Great Britain—Foreign relations—1979-1997—Sources
South Africa—Foreign relations—1978-1989—Sources
South Africa—Foreign relations—1978-1989

Genre(s):

Sources

ISBN:

1138587796 hardback
9781138587793 hardback

Bibliography Note:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Biographical Note:

Patrick Salmon is Chief Historian at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Martin Jewitt was a Support Officer in the Historians Team at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office until his recent retirement.

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