This study investigates the complex socio-political identity of British immigrants in South Africa during the colonial and post-colonial transition. John Stone, a sociologist, examines the tension between the immigrant's status as a 'colonist'—an agent of imperial expansion—and an 'Uitlander'—a foreigner or outsider within the shifting political landscape of South Africa. The work utilizes historical data and sociological frameworks to analyze how these individuals navigated their dual roles and their eventual integration or alienation within the broader South African society.

Experts recognize this text as a significant contribution to the Oxford Studies in African Affairs series, providing a detailed sociological look at settler identity. Scholars often cite the work for its rigorous historical context and its clear articulation of the immigrant experience in a volatile colonial environment.