The South African National Party and the British government (1939–1961)

Abstract

It is not uncommon that the ideas propagated by a political party in opposition are not implemented once the party has won power. The National Party Governments’ policies towards the United Kingdom since 1948 offer a clear illustration of a governing party's inability to realise its earlier aspirations. Political, economic and military realities set bounds to the National Party's intention of freeing South Africa of her overwhelming British fixation in these areas. What is more, the National Party after 1948 even endeavoured to strengthen particularly the military ties with Britain.

While the National Party Governments tried to move closer to Britain, the latter was in turn moving gradually yet unmistakably away from South Africa. The basic cause of this process of alienation was British apposition to apartheid. The National Party's pre‐1948 desire to loosen the ties between South African and Britain was. paradoxically, being realised. It was however Britain that was pushing South Africa aside and not vice versa.