20th century – 20th century
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia’s white nationalist government declared an unrecognised independence in 1965 after possessing legal self-government since 1923. African nationalists ultimately prevailed in 1980, completing the transition away from the white-minority order. The episode exemplifies the violent and protracted decolonisation associated with settler colonial interests in southern Africa.
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The Story
Southern Rhodesia represented a particularly difficult case in the transition from colonial rule. White nationalists had possessed legal self-government since 1923 and opposed concessions to African nationalists. Their political position reflected the wider power of settler interests in territories where European minorities resisted the extension of authority to African majorities.
In 1965, Southern Rhodesia’s white nationalists declared their own independence, but the declaration remained unrecognised. The event demonstrated how settler governments could use existing institutions of self-government to resist the metropolitan concessions being made elsewhere in Africa. It also prolonged the conflict between white-minority nationalism and African nationalist demands.
African nationalists eventually triumphed in 1980. The passage places this outcome alongside the victories achieved in the former Portuguese territories, presenting Southern Rhodesia as part of a broader pattern in which settler resistance delayed, but did not permanently prevent, African majority rule.
20th century – 20th century
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia’s white nationalist government declared an unrecognised independence in 1965 after possessing legal self-government since 1923. African nationalists ultimately prevailed in 1980, completing the transition away from the white-minority order. The episode exemplifies the violent and protracted decolonisation associated with settler colonial interests in southern Africa.
Continue exploring
The Story
Southern Rhodesia represented a particularly difficult case in the transition from colonial rule. White nationalists had possessed legal self-government since 1923 and opposed concessions to African nationalists. Their political position reflected the wider power of settler interests in territories where European minorities resisted the extension of authority to African majorities.
In 1965, Southern Rhodesia’s white nationalists declared their own independence, but the declaration remained unrecognised. The event demonstrated how settler governments could use existing institutions of self-government to resist the metropolitan concessions being made elsewhere in Africa. It also prolonged the conflict between white-minority nationalism and African nationalist demands.
African nationalists eventually triumphed in 1980. The passage places this outcome alongside the victories achieved in the former Portuguese territories, presenting Southern Rhodesia as part of a broader pattern in which settler resistance delayed, but did not permanently prevent, African majority rule.
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