 Former South African president de Klerk spoke about U.S. politics in Robsham on Monday.
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Frederik Willem de Klerk exudes the confidence and wisdom attained only from years of experience. Indeed, after serving as South Africa's president during its tumultuous apartheid era, de Klerk is anything but inexperienced. On Monday afternoon, he was greeted with an enthusiastic welcome from students and faculty who packed into Robsham Theater, eagerly waiting to hear his views on leadership, politics, and the role of the United States in an increasingly globalized world.
As president of South Africa, de Klerk was faced with a near-impossible challenge. He entered his presidency as South Africa extended its four-year-long state of emergency into a fifth year. Mounting pressure from the international community, as well as the UN, imposed sanctions that increasingly isolated the country from the rest of the world and left its economy in a state of grave fragility. De Klerk immediately began repairing the damage that years of colonial rule and racist tension had created.
The complex apartheid system, which divided South Africans into four categories - black, white, Indian, and "colored" - required all members to carry identification cards with their designated race. In addition, the apartheid implemented numerous laws forbidding interracial marriage, repealing black suffrage, and restricting the movement and urbanization of Indian, black, and "colored" citizens. The apartheid was met with extreme and violent resistance by the black community. By the time de Klerk was elected president, the country was festering in bloodshed.
De Klerk's first step in reasserting order was to release Nelson Mandela, the popular anti-apartheid activist, from prison. He then went to negotiate peace talks and eventually brought an end to the apartheid, drafting a new constitution that called for full suffrage to all citizens regardless or race.
On Monday afternoon, however, his focus left South Africa and turned toward the United States. The former president and Nobel Peace laureate began his speech by emphasizing the imperative role of the United States as the effective "mayor" and "chief of police" of the globalized village that the world is becoming. He emphasized that the United States was appointed, not elected, to this role due to its unchallenged military and economic supremacy. Unfortunately, he said, this leadership role allows the United States to become an easy target for criticism from all over the world.
Spring Break
Bryan MacAvoy, Class of 1999
posted 4/10/08 @ 8:32 AM EST
Your article missed on a few points, not the least of which being the headline. The headline stating that Mr. deClerk "Turns Talk to War on Terror" is misleadin to say the least, in that it was no more than a fractional offshoot of a very inclusive talk on globalization. (Continued…)