Michel, Eddie2022-04-142022-04-142021Eddie Michel (2021) A Principled Pragmatism: Gerald R. Ford and Apartheid South Africa, South African Historical Journal, 73:3, 651-678, DOI: 10.1080/02582473.2021.1960591.0258-2473 (print)1726-1686 (online)10.1080/02582473.2021.1960591https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/84886My article explores the stance of ‘principled pragmatism’ adopted by the Gerald R. Ford presidential administration in its relations with apartheid era South Africa during the mid 1970s. This policy was shaped by the values of equality, fairness and justice that stemmed from the political and private persona of Ford himself. Moderated by a practical realpolitik, however, Ford recognised the necessity of avoiding measures that, while carrying an important moral symbolism, would in fact prove to be counterproductive to the aim of ending apartheid. Ford further identified the geopolitical necessity of engaging with rather than isolating South Africa in order to advance broader US strategic and moral objectives in the southern African region.en© 2021 Southern African Historical Society. This is an electronic version of an article published in South African Historical Journal, vol. 73, no. 3, pp. 651-678, 2021. doi : 10.1080/02582473.2021.1960591. South African Historical Journal is available online at : http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rshj20.United States (US)US foreign policyApartheid South AfricaRacial equalityCold War geopoliticsPostprint Article