The end of World War Two and the large-scale drawback of British imperial forces from its colonies around the world began the first phase of this liberation, though it perpetuated many of the class issues and racial problems that had been established in the nation (Boddy-Evans 2011). The country remained a part of the British Commonwealth until 1961, when the all-white government severed direct ties with Great Britain, but the lack of substantive change demonstrates the failure of revolution that isn't class- and in colonial cases race-driven (USDOS 2011; Fanon 2004). The 1961 break from the British Commonwealth and/or the 1948 granting of self-rule by Great Britain marks the first phase of liberation in South Africa, but even after British rule had ended the native population still had to contend with the dominant -- i.e. white -- forces in the country (USDOS 2011). Guerilla warfare and sabotage, including violence against populations and communities of white civilians, marked the increasing frustration of the oppressed black masses, but also resulted in greater violence and segregation efforts in attempts by the white power structure to control these subversive elements (USDOS 2011; Boddy-Evans 2011). Finally, the 1990s saw the release of political prisoners including Nelson Mandela, a lifting of the ban on Afro-centric political parties, and in 1994 the election of Mandela as President and the establishment of a new constitution (USDOS 2011).

US Policy

Throughout the majority of South Africa's struggle for independence, the United States had relatively warm relationships with the white governments in existence there, first due to the country's place within the British Empire, and then as a Europeanized country and ally despite its location on the African continent (Urofsky 2011). This is indicative of the sentiments and practices of neo-colonialism, where economic exploitation and control replaces direct political control but perpetuates many of the oppressive and discriminatory structures of traditional colonialism. South Africa provided certain natural resources for American industry and a market for American goods, making their oppressive...

In 1986, Congress overrode a previous veto by President Ronald Reagan and placed an official sanction against conducting any business with South Africa or private companies operating there (Urofsky 2011). The boycott of South Africa proved to be an effective impetus, pushing the trend towards the eradication of apartheid practices over the edge and ultimately causing a dismantling of the white government that had existed in the country for just short of fifty years (USDOS 2011; Urofsky 2011).
Conclusion

Colonialism has proven to be a destructive force in many respects, including in the degradation and decimation of many native cultures, the over-exploitation of natural resources, and the erosion of trust and goodwill between different peoples of the world. The very forces that made colonialism so destructive, however, also served as the impetus for positive change and the modern struggles for independence engaged in by many native populations in many different nations of the world. South Africa's history is somewhat unique in the succession of different colonial powers that took hold in the region and the resultant differences in the country's struggle for liberation, but it still demonstrates many of these truths about colonialism.