What Tom Holland has said about Apartheid

Holland argues that economic sanctions gradually crippled the South African economy rather than having an immediate effect.

“the economic sanctions kind of cripple the South African economy, not immediately, but it's a kind of slowly deflating puncture”

The Rest Is History: 682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6) (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 12:28

Holland contends that theological doubts among devout Afrikaner leaders played a crucial role in undermining the apartheid regime's confidence.

“Theological anxieties about whether apartheid was part of God's plan actually played a crucial role in deflating the self-confidence of the apartheid regime”

The Rest Is History: 682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6) (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 15:40

Holland argues that the regime might have clung on to apartheid had there not been a black leader, Mandela, with whom it could negotiate.

“they might still have tried to maintain apartheid had it not been for the fact that there existed a black leader with whom the leaders”

The Rest Is History: 682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6) (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 16:25

Holland describes Mandela's post-prison approach as meeting his oppressors with forgiveness in the hope of repentance.

“He's determined to meet them with forgiveness, and he is trusting that they will answer this forgiveness with a mood of repentance”

The Rest Is History: 682. South Africa: Mandela and the Death of Apartheid (Part 6) (Jun 24, 2026) · Listen from 17:49