End of Apartheid in South Africa
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The story of South Africa and the end of apartheid is a complicated one. It is not clear, however, that Waldmeir is adequate to the task of explicating that complexity. Her credentials, as provided to us through the discussion in the prologue, seem sufficient. She has a background in journalism, acquaintance with the continent and country, and interest in the subject. However, there is also a lack of sophistication in her presentation of herself and the understanding of the actors in the South African drama. It is particularly surprising that she makes a character assessment of a revolutionary based on his demeanor, and the fact that he swam laps in a swimming pool. That seems more of a child's perception of reality than an adult's assessment. The adult would recognize that appearances are often deceptive. In other words, Waldmeir seems almost too disingenuous. She does, however, have credentials as a journalist and a long term observer. These are important. Still, from the beginning, there is question about her ability to present a detailed exploration of the facts and the history of apartheid. The racial situation in South Africa before the end of World War II probably should have been discussed more fully. In reading other material, it is clear that there was strict separation of the races, including the Indian minority, well before the time of apartheid that was enforced by the British. As she said,
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ealings, as witness the negotiations toward the Record of Understanding that Waldmeir reported. He was characterized as capable of being brutal, harsh, and ruthless in his dealings with political opponents. At the same time, his persona is kindly, warm, charismatic, and somewhat grandfatherly. His presentation is at variance with the substance, in some instances. As a total person, then, he seems almost a perfect choice to serve during this transitional period. He was sufficiently powerful to negotiate the end to apartheid on terms adequate to gain black South African support, but not so threatening as to lose white South Africans to widespread emigration. He is charismatic enough to serve as a symbol, while also be substantial enough to hold the country together during a transition fraught with dangers.
The Role of de Klerk and Buthelezi
What about de Klerk and Buthelezi? Waldmeir seems to claim a larger role for de Klerk than seems realistic. Much of de Klerk's action can be seen as explicable in terms of the tenability of his position, and the position of white South Africa in a world that increasingly isolated it and pressured it to make major changes. De Klerk did not simply undergo a moral conversion, express remor
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Approximate Word count = 2133
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)
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