This work investigates the political and diplomatic mechanisms that led to the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in Rhodesia in 1965. James P. Barber, a scholar specializing in international politics and African affairs, examines the breakdown of negotiations between the Rhodesian government and the British administration. The text provides a detailed analysis of the internal pressures within the Rhodesian Front and the external constraints imposed by the international community during the transition toward minority rule.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational study for understanding the political collapse of the Central African Federation. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the author's meticulous use of contemporary diplomatic records.