'Seikei bunri' and apartheid: an analysis of the Japanese-South African relationship 1985-1991

ABSTRACT This study is an investigation into the compatibility of Japanese perceived economic interests in South Africa with their public stance against apartheid during the height of international sanctions against South Africa (1985–1991). The hypothesis is that economic interests will always supersede all other issues in Japanese foreign policy. By utilizing events data supplemented by trade statistics and interviews with decisionmakers, we found that although Japanese anti‐apartheid rhetoric was intense and sanctions were implemented against South Africa, Japan nonetheless emerged as South Africa's leading trading partner in 1987. The brief span of this investigation and the subsequent implementation of democracy in South Africa dictates retesting of the hypothesis. We are of the opinion that the hypothesis will remain valid.