This document explains the influence that General Smuts had on the political situation in the world. His leadership manifested in the global view that he had of the world and for that he paid a price. He died in 1950 and the topic of this paper is the changes to world power after his death. The worst threats from the USSR was contained however the balance of power outside of Europe started to change. Where a multipolar world existed pre- 1950 a bipolar world was on the rise with the USSR and USA as the main role players. However this started changing during the sixties with the break in relations between the USSR and China. This break was the manifestation of a development which has dominated the world scene from 1950 onwards namely nationalism. How this will change the balance of world power is discussed.
