Download - LSE Theses Online - London School of Economics and ...

missions and disaster relief. Yet, in the 17 years since the first all-race elections heldin 1994, inaugurating not only a new administration, but a new political dispensationfor South Africa, there is broad agreement outside of government that the countryhas failed to project itself adequately as a positive, decisive influence in regional, andto a lesser extent, in continental, and global, affairs. 325 In the latter two arenas, SouthAfrica’s foreign policy has been deemed a measured success, through its expandedrole in international politics following decades of isolation.This should not be a puzzle for a state emerging from decades of diplomaticisolation and economic underperformance, but for the fact that statements ofexpansive ambition are liberally scattered throughout South Africa’s post-1994foreign policy strategic plans. 326 These include the centrality of human rights,conceived as ‘beyond the political, embracing the economic, social andenvironmental’; ‘the promotion of democracy world-wide’; and the striving for ‘thefundamental reform in the governance and management’ of global multilateralinstitutions. 327 Yet, in a 1996 Green Paper policy document, the governmentrecognised thatthe world’s reaction [of support and admiration for South Africa’s peacefuldemocratisation] does not represent an indefinite continuation of the uniquerelationship…Many expectations about South Africa’s international role have beencreated, but at the same time many demanding responsibilities have beenassumed. 328The literature on South Africa’s activist, internationalist foreign policy isextensive. 329Yet it curiously omits to examine the ideational and political role325 Raenette Taljaard, “Think Again: South Africa”, Foreign Affairs. April 14 (2009)accessed online at:http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/04/13/think_again_south_africa?page=full;Patrick Bond, Talk left, walk right: South Africa’s frustrated global reforms (Scottsville:University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Press, 2006); “Cosatu slams foreign policy”, in BusinessDay, 12 April 2011.326 See, for example, Department of Foreign Affairs Strategic Plans 2006-2009, 2007-2010, 2008-2011.327 Department of Foreign Affairs, Stratregic Plan 2006-9, 2006: pp7-9.328 Department of Foreign Affairs, 2008. “Discussion Document: South African ForeignPolicy”, accessed online at: http://www.info.gov.za/greenpapers/1996/foraf1.htm#1 on24 February, 2011.329 For a sample, see Janis van der Westhuizen, “South Africa’s emergence as a middlepower”, Third World Quarterly, 19, No.3 (1998); Ian Taylor and Paul Williams, “SouthAfrican Foreign Policy and the Great Lakes Crisis: African Renaissance meetsVagabondage Politique?”, African Affairs, No.100 (2001); Ian Taylor, Stuck in MiddleGEAR: South Africa’s Post-Apartheid Foreign Relations (Westport: Praeger, 2001).144