Identity and decolonisation : the policy of partnership in Southern Rhodesia, 1945-62
In 1953, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was created through an agreement between the British government, the Southern Rhodesian government, and the elected legislators of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. An integral part of the Federal project was the policy and ideal of 'partnership' between the races, as distinct from South African apartheid and African nationalism. It was hoped by many of the participants, both white and black, that partnership would be a new approach to race relations in a continent which was in considerable ferment. This thesis evaluates the concept and practice of partnership from 1945 to 1962. It argues that partnership was an attempt by the Rhodesian elite to effect a self-decolonisation: ceding enough power to co-opt the African middle class without radical alteration of the Rhodesian system which thus far has provided a comfortable lifestyle for the whites. Partnership arose from the Rhodesian mental 'reality' which held that there was a 'ladder of civilisation' which everyone, regardless of race, could climb, allowing the system a certain flexibility. As such it was markedly different from South African apartheid which discriminated on the basis of race alone. This thesis
King, Anthony Robert
Nyasaland; Zimbabwe; Race relations; African
Identity and decolonisation : the policy of partnership in Southern Rhodesia, 1945-62. In 1953, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was created through an agreement between the British government, the Southern Rhodesian government, and the elected legislators of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. An integral part of the Federal project was the policy and ideal of 'partnership' between the races, as distinct from South African apartheid and African nationalism. It was hoped by many of the participants, both white and black, that partnership would be a new approach to race relations in a continent which was in considerable ferment. This thesis evaluates the concept and practice of partnership from 1945 to 1962. It argues that partnership was an attempt by the Rhodesian elite to effect a self-decolonisation: ceding enough power to co-opt the African middle class without radical alteration of the Rhodesian system which thus far has provided a comfortable lifestyle for the whites. Partnership arose from the Rhodesian mental 'reality' which held that there was a 'ladder of civilisation' which everyone, regardless of race, could climb, allowing the system a certain flexibility. As such it was markedly different from South African apartheid which discriminated on the basis of race alone. This thesis
identity decolonisation policy partnership southern rhodesia federation rhodesia create agreement british_government southern government elect legislator northern rhodesia integral_part federal project policy ideal partnership race distinct south_african apartheid african nationalism hop many participant white black partnership would new race relation continent considerable evaluates concept practice partnership argue partnership attempt elite effect self decolonisation enough power opt african middle_class without radical alteration system thus_far provide comfortable lifestyle white partnership arise mental reality hold civilisation everyone regardless race could allow system certain flexibility markedly_different south_african apartheid discriminate basis race alone