Marmon, Brooks2022-08-172021Brooks Marmon (2021) Neutrality of a special type: George Loft’s abortive racial reconciliation in the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, 1957–1960, Safundi, 22:4, 417-434, DOI: 10.1080/17533171.2022.2055869.1753-3171 (print)1543-1304 (online)10.1080/17533171.2022.2055869https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/86841In 1957, George Loft, an American Quaker, arrived in Southern Rhodesia (colonial Zimbabwe) as the field representative of the American Friends Service Committee. In his effort to help the region navigate a period of intense political change in a peaceful manner, Loft cultivated diverse contacts during three years in southern Africa. His attempts to ostensibly serve as a neutral facilitator generally rebounded to the favor of the white settler establishment. While Loft’s often stumbling efforts to steer the region away from violent political conflict were unsuccessful, his shaky balancing act illuminates how quickly an already marginal space for compromise and cooperation across racial divides evaporated. It became virtually impossible to maintain a perception of neutrality. Beyond the evolution and views of the political characters he encountered, Loft’s tenure offers critical context on the demise of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland and the rise of Zimbabwe’s armed liberation struggle.en© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an electronic version of an article published in Safundi: The Journal of South African and American Studies, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 417-434, 2021. doi : 10.1080/17533171.2022.2055869. Safundi: The Journal of South African and American Studies is available online at : http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rsaf20.ZimbabweJames Robert Chikerema (1925-2006)DecolonizationRacismAll-Africa People’s ConferenceEdgar Whitehead (1905-1971)Postprint Article