The Open Economy and Societal Corporatism, 1923–65

Abstract

Southern Rhodesia was established in 1890 as a vast business enterprise, owned and operated by Cecil Rhodes’s British South Africa Company (BSAC). The aim of the Chartered Company was to develop the territory’s gold mines, on the expectations that a ‘second Rand’ had been discovered. These high hopes were disappointed, however, and the BSAC consequently tried to attract European settlers in sufficient numbers so that commercial farming could be developed as a second pillar of the colony’s economy. Only through the sale of land taken from the black population could the company hope to recuperate its vast investments, notably in railways. The political and economic monopoly position of the BSAC was resented by the European settlers, however. They frequently came into conflict with the company over land rights, access to cheap African labour and railway tariffs. Settlers therefore demanded a share of political power. In 1923, ‘responsible government’ was established whereby company rule was ended and Southern Rhodesia gained extensive autonomy from Great Britain.