Foreign Policy Leadership and War: Case Study of Anglo-Zulu War of 1879

Abstract

TheBritish imperial policy of colonising smaller, weaker and less developed nations was the underlying cause of the Anglo-Zulu War. The imperial policy allowed British agents, including the military, to use unrestricted amount of violence to deal with nations resisting colonial authority. Leaders who used violence against natives without express British government authority with success were rewarded with decorations and career advancement. Those who failed or caused loss of British lives were lightly reprimanded and/or redeployed. The declaration and the waging of the Anglo-Zulu War was in line with the British policy of using violence against native states perceived as a threat to imperial interests. Leadership was pivotal in the occurrence of the Anglo-Zulu War. It was power relations and interactions between various British and Zulu leaders that resulted in Britons and Zulus going to war. The manner in which Carnarvon was advised to bring about the confederation of Southern African states caused the Anglo-War. Actions and decisions taken by various leaders led to a violent confrontation between the two nations. Decision-making processes within the imperial system facilitated the waging of the war without the express British government authority. The colonial office under Carnarvon's leadership was able to conceive the confederation concept and allocated resources for its implementation without any political oversight. Colonial officials were allowed to make and implement decisions in the colonies without London's approval. A hurried attempt to implement the confederation was the direct cause of the Anglo-Zulu War. Bartle Frere and Chelmsford were appointed for the sole purpose of dealing with the Zulus. Decisions taken by the Zulu kings, particularly Mpande and Cetshwayo facilitated an easy British victory.