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The South African Defense Industry in Political Context
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16316 |
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Section : |
MODERN THOUGHT
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| Issue
Date : |
3 / 1989 |
8,668 Words |
| Author
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Paul C. Waxlax
Paul C. Waxlax writes on international relations and is doing
a book on South Africa's defense industry. |
Despite the implementation of a UN arms embargo a decade ago, South Africa has remained intransigent in its response to both incessant world demand for domestic reform and overt Marxist-directed military pressure. One explanation for South Africa's obstinate world posture stems from its successful buildup of a remarkably self-sufficient defense industry.
The confluence of an imperialistic Marxist threat with increasing international diplomatic isolation, as evidenced by the 1963 and 1977 UN armaments embargoes, caused the Republic of South Africa to embark on a concerted drive toward the development of an indigenous armaments manufacturing capability. Building upon Africa's most financially and economically advanced economic base, the South African defense industry had achieved a remarkable degree of self-sufficiency by 1987, in terms of both production and raw material inputs. In the process, it had become the word's tenth largest arms exporter and effectively supplied the continent's most potent military machine with durable, competitive weapons systems. Spearheaded by the parastatal Armscor Corporation, the defense sector developed by utilizing the resources and knowledge of the private business sector to the fullest extent possible. The result is a defense industry made up of the government, the private sector, and the military establishment, which could serve as a model to all developing national armaments industries.
The Beginnings Of The South African Defense Industry
A brief overview of southern African political developments from Pretoria's perspective from 1948 to the present may be in order. This overview will be followed by a discussion of the South African armaments industry. We will then conclude by addressing the questions of South Africa's ability to remain the bastion of anticommunist stability in the sub-continental African region, and of the past consequences and future implications of the 1977 armaments embargo and, finally, by analyzing the thrust and direction of the West's current policy in its relations with the Republic of South Africa.
Political/Strategic overview
In 1948, the Afrikaner-dominated National party (NP) swept into power in a general election. This marked not only the end of pro-British rule in South Africa but also the advent of the racially based polity of apartheid. Almost immediately, the new government was the object of sharp criticism from both regional and international
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