Why Rhodesia Had to Declare Independence

America Approaches This Decision

Welcome back, and thanks for reading. In a first for this publication, this article, a book review of JRT Wood’s “So Far and No Further!: Rhodesia's Bid for Independence During the Retreat from Empire 1959-1965,” is a post for paid subscribers. I have made it so because I want to deliver value for those who are pay to keep this going, and long-form content of this sort seems the best way to do so. So, moving forward, about 1/3 of the posts will be long-form posts, primarily fun adventure stories from empire and reviews of books I think are important, for paid subscribers. If you’d like to read them, I’d really appreciate it if you became a paid subscriber. Enjoy, and as always, please tap the heart to like this post so the algorithm knows to promote it!

One subject I have focused on a great deal here is, of course, Rhodesia’s fight for independence against communist aggression and Western tyranny. However, one subject I have heretofore left unaddressed is why, exactly, the Rhodesias felt they needed to formally leave the British Commonwealth and become independent, rather than simply remaining in and hoping there would eventually be someone sane in charge.

Of course, the usual explanation—that Africa was going down the drain as the former imperial powers retreated from their possessions, and Rhodesia wanted to get ahead of the problem—is somewhat true.

However, it is far from the full story, and misses what made Rhodesia’s case unique and far more instructive. So, using Wood’s “So Far and No Further!” as a guide, I’ll tell the story of why Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence, what the lesson from the situation is, and my verdict on “So Far and No Further!” as a book.