What motivated South Africa's former white leaders to hand over the reins of power to a black government? Economist Anton D. Lowenberg examines the economic interests that led to apartheid and the economic prospects for post-apartheid South African society.

South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid examines the history of South Africa from 1948 to the present day, covering the introduction of the oppressive policy of apartheid when the Nationalists came to power, its mounting opposition in the 1970s and 1980s, its eventual collapse in the 1990s, and its legacy up to the present day. Fully revised, the third edition includes: new material on the impact of apartheid, including the social and cultural effects of the urbanization that occurred when Africans were forced out of rural areas analysis of recent political and economic issues that are rooted in the apartheid regime, particularly continuing unemployment and the emergence of opposition political parties such as the Economic Freedom Fighters an updated Further Reading section, reflecting the greatly increased availability of online materials an expanded set of primary source documents, providing insight into the minds of those who enforced apartheid and those who fought it. Illustrated with photographs, maps and figures and including a chronology of events, glossary and Who’s Who of key figures, this essential text provides students with a current, clear, and succinct introduction to the ideology and practice of apartheid in South Africa.

"On his way into Parliament on 2 February 1990 FW de Klerk turned to his wife Marike and said, referring to his forthcoming speech: "South Africa will never be the same again after this." Did white South Africa crack, or did its leadership yield sufficiently and just in time to avert a revolution? The transformation has been called a miracle, belying gloomy predictions of race war in which the white minority went into a laager and fought to the last drop of blood. Why did it happen? In The Rise and Fall of Apartheid, David Welsh views the topic against the backdrop of a long history of conflict spanning apartheid's rise and demise, and the liberation movement's suppression and subsequent resurrection. His view is that the movement away from apartheid to majority rule would have taken far longer and been much bloodier were it not for the changes undergone by Afrikaner nationalism itself. There were turning points, such as the Soweto uprising of 1976, but few believed that the transition from white domination to inclusive democracy would occur as soon - and as relatively peacefully - as it did. In effect, however, a multitude of different factors led the ANC and the National Party to see that neither side could win the conflict on its own terms. Utterly dissimilar in background, culture, beliefs and political style, Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk were an unlikely pair of liberators. But both soon recognised that they were dependent on each other to steer the transformation process through to its conclusion. "

Based on extensive archival research in South Africa and drawing on the most recent scholarship, this book is an original and lucid exposition of the ideological, political and administrative origins of Apartheid. It will add substantially to the understanding of contemporary South Africa.

A unique overview of the whole 350-year history of South Africa’s racial order, from the mid-seventeenth century to the apartheid era. Maylam periodizes this racial order, drawing out its main phases and highlighting the significant turning points. He also analyzes the dynamics of South African white racism, exploring the key forces and factors that brought about and perpetuated oppressive, discriminatory policies, practices, structures, laws and attitudes. There is also a strong historiographical dimension to the study. It shows how various writers have, from different perspectives, attempted to explain the South African racial order and draws out the political and ideological agendas that lay beneath these diverse interpretations. Essential reading for all those interested in the past, present and future of South Africa, this book also has implications for the wider study of race, racism and social and political ethnic relations.

Apartheid was an oppressive and brutal system of racial discrimination that captured and appalled world opinion during the latter half of the twentieth century. South Africa: The Rise and Fall of Apartheid examines the history of South Africa during this period of apartheid: from 1948 when the Nationalists came to power, through to the collapse of the system in the 1990s. Written in a clear and accessible manner, the book: charts the history of the apartheid regime, starting with the institution of the policy, through the mounting opposition in the 1970’s and 1980’s, to its eventual collapse in the 1990’s highlights the internal contradictions of white supremacy demonstrates how black opposition, from that of Nelson Mandela to that of thousands of ordinary people, finally brought an end to white minority rule provides an extensive set of documents to give insight into the minds of those who fashioned and those who opposed apartheid discusses the subsequent legacy of apartheid Also containing a Chronology, Glossary, Who’s Who of leading figures and Guide to Further Reading, this book provides students with the most up-to-date and succinct introduction to the ideology and practice of apartheid in South Africa.

Describes the impact apartheid had on South African society and the emergence of the powerful protest movement that sought to combat it.