All of us necessarily have a parochial view of the world; we see it through the distorting medium of our own concerns. Since concerns differ, we find it difficult to recognise other people's world-pictures. But in spite of this, many with widely different - indeed opposing - world views are united in finding Southern Africa of central interest. Why is this? First, there are material concerns. Southern Africa is a major source of certain important materials (gold, diamonds, chrome, platinum and uranium). There is a natural concern that supplies should not be interrupted. There are substantial investments - both from Europe and America - in the region, and there is also concern with the maintenance of markets.

Secondly, there are what might be described as geo-political interests. Western politicians and publicists see the area in terms of Soviet expansionism. Public statements of South African leaders are along similar lines, although it is not clear how far such statements are genuinely believed and how far they are intended as a diversion from other issues. Others [eg Johnson 1977] point to the activities of western powers (the United States and France in particular) in the region.

Some of the African countries are concerned with the expansionist policies - political and economic - of the Republic of South Africa. But, whatever the interpretation, there is widespread concern that the region may be the setting for conflicts which could well take on a world dimension. Lastly there are what might be called ideological and moral issues. There are those who are centrally aware of the extreme and institutionalised inequalities in the region - and in particular the racial inequalities inside South Africa itself. As a reflection of these powerful, if conflicting, interests, Southern Africa enjoys widespread, if confusing, publicity in the world press.