Abstract: | The British South Africa Company was characterized from its origins by institutionalized irresponsibility. It represented an amalgamation of two rival groups in London and South Africa, each of which had the capacity to frustrate the objects of the other. But after the amalgamation, Rhodes essentially had the scope to exercise his judgment without restraint short of large levies on the Company's assets or serious embarrassment to the Imperial government. He in turn gave great discretionary authority to Jameson, who was devoted to the execution of Rhodes' objectives as he understood them, but who also was an incompetent administrator. Notes. |