A Critical History of Southern Rhodesia
Gardner Thompson | | ISBN: 978-1-68585-988-6 $95.00 |
| ISBN: 978-1-68585-989-3 $95.00 |
2024/245 pages/LC: 2023034616 |
DESCRIPTION
Gardner Thompson offers a fresh history of British rule in Southern Rhodesia, from the first colonial settlements in Mashonaland in the 1890s to the establishment of the country's sovereignty as Zimbabwe.
After tracing developments in the early decades, Thompson turns to the post–World War II debate about the colony's future direction—which pitted progressive settlers against the increasingly racialist conservative core—the impact of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965, and the many damaging consequences of the choices that were made. Not least, he assesses the legacy of Rhodesian colonialism in postcolonial Zimbabwe.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gardner Thompson is a historian of British imperialism, with a focus on Africa and the Middle East. His previous publications include Uganda: British Colonial Rule and Its Legacy and Legacy of Empire: Britain, Zionism and the Creation of Israel (short-listed for the Middle East Monitor's 2020 Palestine Book Awards). Dr. Thompson is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
CONTENTS
- Why a New History of Southern Rhodesia?
- The Founding of Southern Rhodesia.
- The Settler Colony.
- Winds of Change.
- Liberal Dawn?
- Turn to the Right.
- Cul-de-Sac.
- Legacy: Zimbabwe.
- Judging Empire.
"A valuable read on an almost forgotten moment in late empire…. Thompson captures well the dilemma that faced Rhodesia’s white settlers, who missed a real chance for something better than the bush war and Mugabe."—Matthew Parris, Times (London) columnist and former UK member of Parliament
"Wrestles with the complexities of the politics of race and racial domination in Rhodesia.... A provocative take on Rhodesian history."—Munya Munochiveyi, College of the Holy Cross