The Dutch Debate about Apartheid: Dutch foreign policy toward the South African Apartheid regime during the 1980s

Abstract

After decades of international condemnation, Western governments increasingly imposed sanctions on the South African Apartheid regime during the 1980s. At the same time, Dutch non-governmental anti-Apartheid organizations took on a leading role in the struggle against Apartheid. Despite these international and domestic developments, the Dutch government remained reluctant to impose sanctions during the 1980s. This thesis analyzes what factors influenced this conservative stance toward the Apartheid regime, focusing on the considerations of Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Hans van den Broek. It uses a variety of primary sources including newspapers, parliamentary debates, policy documents, and memoranda. Moreover, interviews were conducted with the former head of the Southern Africa section within the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bob Hiensch, and the former parliamentarian concerned with South Africa Jacques Wallage. This research highlights four main factors in Van den Broek’s foreign policy: the historical link between the Netherlands and South Africa, economic interests, geopolitical considerations, and the party’s political concerns. These findings highlight Van den Broek’s realist considerations rather than constructivist influences. In this way, this thesis contributes to the historiographical debate between constructivists and realists about sanctions against the South African Apartheid regime. Moreover, this case study shares similarities with contemporary cases in Dutch foreign policy such as the Dutch policy toward Israel.