"Constructively" Supporting Aggression and Repression - Reagan's South Africa Policy

Abstract

Although overshadowed by the nature of its activities in other parts of the world, the changes which the Reagan administration has initiated in U.S. relations with South Africa have had profound consequences both for the African people of South Africa and for neighbouring countries. The premise of Reagan's approach has been that cordial relations with South Africa would achieve more in terms of resolving the problems of Southern Africa and in securing United States interests than the chilly disapproval which characterized President Carter's policy. This new direction, termed constructive engagement, was worked out by Chester Crocker who, as Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, became Reagan's top official on African affairs. Specifically, the policy was meant to deliver a peaceful resolution to the conflict over independence in Namibia and thus to provide the Reagan Presidency with a foreign policy success.