You are warmly invited to the NWU History Seminar, hosted by Dr. Eddie Michel, featuring a discussion titled "A Pragmatic Morality: Gerald R. Ford and U.S. relations with apartheid South Africa during the mid-1970s."
Abstract
This presentation explores the stance of ‘Principled Pragmatism’ adopted by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential administration in its relations with apartheid era South Africa during the mid-1970s. This policy was shaped by the values of equality, fairness and justice that stemmed from the political and private persona of Ford himself. Moderated by a practical real politik, however, Ford recognized the necessity of avoiding measures, that while carrying an important moral symbolism, would in fact prove to be counterproductive to the aim of ending apartheid. Ford further identified the geopolitical necessity of engaging with rather than isolating South Africa in order to advance broader U.S. strategic and moral objectives in the southern African region.
About Dr. Eddie Michel
Dr. Eddie Michel is a Research Fellow in the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the University of Pretoria. Dr. Michel is also an Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. Fellow of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and a Research Associate of the African Centre for the Study of the United States at the University of Pretoria (ACSUS-UP). Dr. Michel’s current research interests lie in the field of United States policy towards South Africa during the apartheid era. His broader areas of research include U.S. foreign policy, U.S. history and the Cold War in southern Africa. He is the author of The White House and White Africa: Presidential policy toward Rhodesia during the UDI era of 1965-79 which was published by Routledge in 2018. His research has been recognized and funded by the Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundations.
Meeting ID: 938 9508 4747
Passcode: 834549
For more information, kindly contact Lauren Hobbs.