Two Endings: semi-historiographical musings.

The article discusses the relationship between the end of the Cold War and the end of apartheid in South Africa. It highlights that while many analysts at the time did not anticipate the rapid and peaceful end of both the Cold War and apartheid, these two world historical events unfolded close in time to each other. The article explores the connections between the two processes, including the impact of international pressures, the weakening of the South African government and the ANC, and the disappearance of military support for the ANC. It also emphasizes the importance of events in Namibia in influencing the end of apartheid in South Africa. The article acknowledges that the relationship between the ending of the Cold War and the ending of apartheid remains unclear and calls for further research to provide a comprehensive understanding of these interconnected events. [Extracted from the article]