Why has the UK never faced up to its responsibility in helping to create and sustain Apartheid?

Question

M Thatcher was pro-Apartheid regime (sanctions were always nominal). Barclays, de Beers and Anglo-American had huge investments in RSA. Figure seems to be about 70% British ownership of RSA economy after WWII. UK called the shots economically and benefitted from slave labour system to reduce production costs in diamond etc mines. UK also created precursor of segregated townships in Grahamstown etc during 1890s. UK (and US) could have pulled plug on that regime at any time post-WWII but chose not to. This was justified by the necessity of fighting communism in Africa. UK has pulled similar stunts in Ireland and India where Imperialist occupation did very little good. For disastrous effects of British occupation of India and elsewhere seehttp://www.monbiot.com/archives/2005/12/27/how-britain-denies-its-holocausts/
This question is important because it seems to me that although the UK styles itself as a world leader in ethics, it refuses to face up to the darker side of its past...

Answer 1

Okay we face up to it. Now what do you want us to do? Happy or are you going to present more obscure and abstract quotes?

Answer 2

Because it cannot see the benefit of focussing on the negative, which we all know about, rather than work for a better future now.

Yes it was the UK's fault, and it made life hard for the black people of South Africa, and they should openly acknowledge this and colonialism and slavery. But they don't. This is where other countries are different.

And speaking as a German I can say that it does not fill your life with pleasure when you apologise for having had relatives & ancestors that did bad things all the time. It sort of saps you, because of how frustrating it is when you realise that others do not distinguish between your now and the then, when they look at you like it was you personally that is to blame for everything that happened. Take it from me, this is the lonelyest thing in the world that a people can ever experience.

Answer 3

Read the book 'Scorched earth'
This gives details about the concentration camp systen in South africa during the Anglo Boer war.
300,000 women and children perished in these camps, a fact not made known in history books in UK.
They are regarded as one of the ideas behind apartheid. Separate camps for blacks and whites.
More people perished in these camps than in the fighting.
British troops burned down 36,000 Boer homesteads.
This war crime is generally disregarded by historians.
To answer your question, I don't think you can blame UK today as most people here are totally ignorant of the facts but this war was a pre cursor to WW1 and we know the rest.
Maybe one day we will all understand who the real villain was.

Answer 4

North Ireland, East Africa, Pakistan, south Africa and Australia Apartheids, Native Tasmanians Genocide...

Thanks England

Answer 5

Because it was primarily the result of commerical organisations that have too powerful a voice in politics for anyone to start investigating.

An investigation would reveal some ugly truths for some of the major names in UK industry and that would be financially and politically damaging so far better to brush it under the carpet and pretend it never happened.

Answer 6

Afraid you must have got off the bus at the stop which said 1936, this is stop 2007, apartheid is history, and history is what we learn from, if we are wise.

Answer 7

why is ut the UKs responsibility I thought it was up to the government of the country concerned. We didn,t ask any one to sort out the IRA. or the coal miners or this dictator type government we have now.

Answer 8

when exactly are you referring to?
i think your living in the past, or getting confused with south africa

Answer 9

WHAT? Provide sources for this drivel

Answer 10

Great Britain has never really been that great...Every country it ever ruled was left in devestation.