Apartheid Quote by Bob Hawke
“I said to my people, "We're knocking apartheid off but we've got to be prepared to assist them." And I sent senior people over there to assist the incoming South African regime to go about the economic plan.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Commonwealth Conference, 1985
Assist transitioning regimes despite moral concerns to ensure economic stability.
In simple terms: Help new governments for economic reasons.
Key Takeaway
Weigh ethical costs against pragmatic needs.
Themes
politics
economics
morality
Mood
pragmatic
serious
Type
political
reflective
When to use this quote
- foreign aid
- policy planning
- economic advisory
Key Concepts
realpolitik
post‑conflict reconstruction
Questions to Reflect On
- When is it justified to support controversial regimes?
- What safeguards protect ethical standards?
A Different Perspective
Moral compromise can damage credibility.
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