Starving Pelican wrote:
I know you're just stirring shit, but I'd argue that Mandela's approach has led to far less conflict than what could've been possible had he gone the Mugabe route. White South Africans numbered in their millions, and due to conscription, a bulk of the men had military training. Add the control of a vast majority of the country's resources and access to weapons. The blacks are much higher in number but whites could've gotten the coloureds and Indians (both of whom distrust the blacks immensely) and you'd be looking at a reasonably level playing field, at least level enough for the situation to get seriously ugly for both sides had Mandela been openly hostile.
The bigger problem was the post-colonial rebel movements in the neighboring countries (SWAPO, FAPLA, FRELIMO, etc), where the SADF and it's proxies like RENAMO were under huge pressure. The wars in these countries were a large factor in bringing an end to the apartheid government.