Hegemonic Power and Governance

The Strategic Review for Southern Africa, 2020

This study examines the trajectory of South Africa's post-apartheid foreign policy by establishing the extent of change or consistency in its implementation since 1994. Under the ruling African National Congress (ANC), South Africa has emerged as a promising international actor, particularly within the Southern African region and on the African continent in general. The authors provide a historical analysis of the major trajectories of foreign policy articulation under the administrations of Presidents Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma spanning the period 1994 to 2018. In investigating the conception and execution of foreign policy under these dispensations, the authors unravel a consistent but skewed pattern of national role conception that underscores Pretoria’s vision to be a major actor in international affairs, both regionally and globally. We conclude that South Africa’s foreign policy during this period was marked by Mandela’s altruism, Mbeki’s Afrocentrism and t...

2021

The first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994 and the end of the Cold War in Africa set new parameters defining South Africa's foreign policy towards the African continent. On the one hand, Pretoria can for the first time since the Republic's independence in 1961 openly establish and maintain contacts with African states. In the earlier period this policy was mostly pursued secretly. Today, in contrast, South Africa's relations with the African continent are much more an issue of open discussion and they have became a matter of high importance within its overall foreign policy. A new international setting, on the other hand, forces African states to find new ways and means in dealing with the country at the southern tip of the continent. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, I present the issues that currently dominate the relations between South Africa and African states. Second, it provides a comprehensive compilation of literature on the identified themes. 3 "honeymoon period" which gave rise to unrealistic hopes on a new foreign policy. However, there were also cautious voices. 6 After decades of white minority rule, reflected in the domination of the DFA by the Afrikaner community, foreign policy could not change overnight. The new government had to be careful not to try to effect change simultaneously. South Africa was rightly described as a "middle power" with limited capacities. 7 However, scholars have suggested that it could and should take the lead in the promotion of human rights. Given the country's own experienceovercoming apartheid rule and establishing a democratic system, investigating human rights violations under apartheid with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)-South Africa is considered to be predestinated for becoming active in that field internationally. 8 Foreign policy also had to be legitimised at home, given the great expectations for change and improvement amid the ANC's predominantly black electorate. Finally, South Africa still had to position itself in the North-South divide. In 1995 Rhodes University professor Pau-Henri Bischoff summarised the conflicts of foreign policy makers which have remained until today:

2012

In 1994, after the African National Congress’s electoral victory, the Republic of South Africa emerged as a promising regional foreign policy actor. The rise of a generation formed in one of the most epic global political struggles, its proclaimed commitment to promote peace and development and its promise to put human rights at the heart of its international relations seemed to open a new era in Africa.The new South Africa established itself as a key actor in the region, acting as a mediator and sending peacekeeping

International Journal For Reseacrh In Applied Science And Engineering Technology, 2020

This article explains the foreign policy of South Africa from the period of 1994-2012. It explains the points of the dimensions of South Africa's foreign policy. " Continuity and Change of South Africa's Foreign Policy 1994-2012" focused to understand how and what effect, changing and significance has been there in the foreign policy of South Africa from the Mandela to Jacob Zuma time period. The foreign policy of South Africa has been important. The basic foreign policy of South Africa is to promote its territories, human rights, and peace. South Africa foreign policy has been relating to an apartheid policy which is a background of it. It examines the foreign policy in Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma presidential. It describes the foreign policy from apartheid to post-apartheid.

Southern Africa has always featured prominently in South Africa’s foreign policy. During apartheid, the National Party government saw fit to unleash a destructive agenda on neighbouring countries as an integral part of its strategy to quash support for the liberation movement. Since 1994, under a democratic dispensation, South Africa’s foreign policy has aspired towards greater regional integration. This has necessitated a more pacific re-orientation of policy. However, over the past 20 years South Africa’s leaders have struggled to rebuild trust because the country’s economic and political dominance looms large over its neighbours. The intersection between ‘trust-building’ and ‘dominance’ is where South Africa’s (sometimes clumsy) foreign policy is to be located. This is why this paper draws on the themes of ‘dominance’ and ‘integration’ to explain some of the findings emanating from a perceptions survey that the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) conducted in 2013.* SAIIA conducted the perceptions survey among foreign policy practitioners in the foreign and diplomatic corps based in South Africa and Ethiopia. This paper focuses on some of the key perceptions emanating from respondents representing countries in Southern Africa and provides insights aimed at a better understanding of how politics in this region unfolds around South Africa. It also offers recommendations drawn from empirical evidence on how South Africa can improve its engagement with Southern Africa in its foreign relations.

2007

Who makes South Africa's foreign policy? this has been an area of continuous discussion following South Africa's transition to democracy in 1994. In the foreign policy analysis discourse, considerable attention has been given to the role of the head of state and government in shaping foreign policy, particularly in developed countries. With South africa's own President assuming a predominant role in foreign policy, there is a need for further reflection on the impact of this position in foreign policy decision making. Using existing theory and current analysis this article highlights the different approaches adopted by South Africa's first four democratically elected presidents, from the international statesmanship of Mandela, to the micro-management of Mbeki, the stabiliser role of Motlanthe and the consensus-building to absent leader position of Jacob Zuma. drawing on Joseph Nye's discussion of the characterisation of transformational and transactional leadership, this analysis traces the approaches of the different Presidents in shaping South Africa's foreign policy and international engagement.

SAYIL, 2009

Journal of Contemporary History, 2010

If foreign policy is viewed as an "intermestic" arena where the external meets the internal, then it becomes possible to see how internal domestic factors drive foreign policy making. In this context the democracyforeign policy nexus and the role of governmental and non-governmental foreign policy actors help to reconcile ideals and interests and put foreign policy contradictions into perspective. The desirability of democratic participation in foreign policy is taken as a given, but agency has to go beyond representation to include issues of participation and political dialogue. The focus of this article is the democratic deficit of the Mbeki foreign policy (1999-2008), with some reference to the Zuma administration. The way in which foreign policy was personalised under the presidency of Mbeki was instrumental in closing the space for meaningful participation in the foreign policy processes. The article concludes that democratic foreign policy making is impeded by an overall deterioration in the quality of democracy in post-apartheid South Africa. It further contends that there is more continuity than change across the Mbeki and Zuma administrations' policy orientations (both domestic and foreign) and warns that the challenges which Mbeki faced in terms of democratic consolidation may be exacerbated in the Zuma period if certain demons are not tackled head on.