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The organisation’s main shortcoming was thus in failing to separate its stateresponsibilities from its commitments as a political party and again, from its politicsas a liberation movement. Although its identity as a ‘liberation movement’ was thebasis for high expectations from the international community about the ANC’sapproach to human rights, it was, paradoxically, used by the party to justify anumber of associations considered ‘dubious’ by the West, and human rights activistsglobally.As the party entered Mbeki’s two terms as state president, its internationalist stancewas exposed to the harsh light of day by the growing tensions within the tripartitealliance. The ANC’s allies further to the left of the political spectrum, and thosebased in civil society, were progressively seen as the carriers of the banner ofinternationalism and progressivism, while the party itself acted within the limits andupon the motivations of governing power. “In this sense, the changes wrought byMbeki have been inspired by large doses of pragmatism and moderation in recastingSouth Africa’s role in a manner more commensurate with its size”. 379To appreciate Mbeki’s task, however, it is worthwhile to consider the institutionaland policy context that served as a backdrop to his modifications, by analysing theMandela foreign policy.5.3. Mandela’s foreign policy: unsettled notions of security, the nationalinterest, and the limited resource of international acclaimBy 1994, the year of the first all-race elections, it was generally expected in the West,given the role played by one of the largest international advocacy campaigns inhistory, and the nature of the ANC’s struggle, that human rights and democracypromotionand protection would form a cornerstone of the new government’sforeign policy, or at least that South Africa would be a force for positive change inAfrica. As noted by The Economist in 1995, “Ever since Nelson Mandela waselected…foreigners have dreamed of him as a continental troubleshooter”. 380379 Alden and le Pere, “South Africa’s Post-Apartheid Foreign Policy”, 72.380 The Economist, “Too gentle giant”, November 18 th 1995: 81.162