XXᵉ siècle
South Africa and Namibia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
P.W. Botha was South Africa’s Defence Minister who became president in September 1978. He presented himself as a reformer while seeking to preserve white power and pursued a “total strategy” combining military opposition, political destabilisation, threats, infiltration, aggression, and limited diplomacy. His rise added complexity to South African policy toward Namibia, which alternated between delaying tactics, internal constitutional arrangements, and negotiations with the United Nations.
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Le récit
P.W. Botha became president of South Africa in September 1978 after serving as the powerful Defence Minister. He claimed to support reform and told the white population that it must “adapt or die.” The account nevertheless presents his central objective as preserving white power rather than transforming the political order.
Botha’s “total strategy” combined military and political instruments. It sought to counter armed opposition to South African rule, weaken and destabilise neighbouring southern African states, and keep South Africa’s strategic options open in Namibia. These objectives were pursued through threats, infiltration, military aggression, large-scale invasions, armed raids, assassinations, and car bombs.
The growing power of the military wing influenced policy and sometimes left the government barely able to control events. Diplomacy remained part of the strategy but was described as much less important than military means. In Namibia, this approach contributed to the continuing tension between the Turnhalle settlement and negotiations leading toward internationally supervised independence.
XXᵉ siècle
South Africa and Namibia
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
P.W. Botha was South Africa’s Defence Minister who became president in September 1978. He presented himself as a reformer while seeking to preserve white power and pursued a “total strategy” combining military opposition, political destabilisation, threats, infiltration, aggression, and limited diplomacy. His rise added complexity to South African policy toward Namibia, which alternated between delaying tactics, internal constitutional arrangements, and negotiations with the United Nations.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
P.W. Botha became president of South Africa in September 1978 after serving as the powerful Defence Minister. He claimed to support reform and told the white population that it must “adapt or die.” The account nevertheless presents his central objective as preserving white power rather than transforming the political order.
Botha’s “total strategy” combined military and political instruments. It sought to counter armed opposition to South African rule, weaken and destabilise neighbouring southern African states, and keep South Africa’s strategic options open in Namibia. These objectives were pursued through threats, infiltration, military aggression, large-scale invasions, armed raids, assassinations, and car bombs.
The growing power of the military wing influenced policy and sometimes left the government barely able to control events. Diplomacy remained part of the strategy but was described as much less important than military means. In Namibia, this approach contributed to the continuing tension between the Turnhalle settlement and negotiations leading toward internationally supervised independence.
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