South Africa’s foreign
South Africa’s foreign policy makers are facing a substantial challenge. From the advent of the democratic era in 1994 through to the early 2000s, South Africa was a highly respected actor in international affairs with a number of impressive accomplishments in the areas of global governance, peacekeeping and international norm entrepreneurship. However, since that time, the country’s international standing has declined. The value based and innovative foreign policy that earned the early post-apartheid South African government such great international respect has been replaced by a more transactional and tactically driven approach to international affairs. The country’s position as Africa’s leading economy and voice in international affairs is increasingly being challenged by other African states. This book explores how South Africa can develop a foreign policy strategy that is appropriate to the uncertain times in which we live and that both helps the country address its overwhelming domestic challenges of poverty, inequality and unemployment and regain its former high international reputation. The contributors to this book offer analyses and proposals for developing such a strategy within the context of the country’s constitutional order and institutional constraints and that addresses the diverse and complex global and regional aspects of the country’s international relations. “In this valuable book – which should be on every diplomat’s bookshelf - some of SA’s foremost experts offer the government frank and compelling advice on how to conduct a much better foreign policy over the next decade. … The authors challenge Pretoria to muster all the country’s assets and skills – and not just those of the ruling party – to pursue only the most important foreign policy goals. And to be guided always by the lodestar of the Constitution.” Peter Fabricius, Foreign Policy Analyst, former Foreign Affairs Editor at Independent Newspapers. “In this one-of-a-kind book of twelve chapters by emerging and experienced scholars, the authors probe into factors shaping South African foreign policy, lessons learned and the future strategy of the country’s foreign policy in an ever-changing world. A compelling read for policy makers and scholars.” Ambassador Prof Iqbal Jhazbhay, University of South Africa, Member of the ANC’s N.E.C. International Relations Sub-Committee & former SA Ambassador to Eritrea “This volume deserves to become a go-to classic on South African foreign policy. Its in-depth analysis will appeal to established experts in this area; its breadth will engage newcomers; its insights will be useful to scholars and practitioners alike.” Professor Amrita Narlikar, President, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) “This book offers compelling insights on South Africa’s foreign policy ... These varied pieces provide textured and critical perspectives that may help open up an avenue to re-imagine South Africa’s foreign policy afresh in the post-Zuma years. It is a compendium that should appeal to scholars of international relations, practitioners of foreign policy, and the broader policy community.” Professor Mzukiso Qobo, Head, School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand “This nuanced and richly detailed volume offers the reader superb analyses of South Africa’s foreign policy ... The authors’ contributions ... present both theoretical considerations and specific policy recommendations, which make the book highly useful for both scholars and policy makers ... Each chapter is thus certain to significantly contribute to promoting the public debate about South Africa’s place in the world.” Professor Oliver Stuenkel, Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) ISBN: 978-1-920538-85-9 S governance How values, interests and power must shape South Africa’s foreign policy The Covid-19 crisis is one of many indicators that we live in dangerous and uncertain times. Others include the international community’s struggle to respond to technological and climate change, demographic shifts, growing poverty and inequality as well as increased global insecurity. The global governance arrangements for managing these changes are no longer fit for purpose. By Danny Bradlow, SARCHI Professor of International Development Law and African Economic Relations, University of Pretoria Take the decision-making procedures in the UN Security Council and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). They do not account for the growing importance of developing countries. Nor do they meaningfully accommodate non-state actors such as transnational corporations and civil society groups. These changes are pushing countries to reassess how they use foreign policy to serve their national interests. A recently published book, Values, Interest and Power: South African Foreign Policy in Uncertain Times, contributes to such a reassessment in South Africa. In the book, a group of South African authors offer suggestions on how the country can formulate and implement a foreign policy that responds to a changing global world. RECOMMENDATIONS The book concludes with some recommendations for South Africa’s foreign policy makers. First, foreign policy should: • contribute to implementing the domestic economic and social transformation agenda • be consistent with the values and governance arrangements set out in the Constitution • position South Africa to be a norm entrepreneur in global affairs. This means pursuing creative and principled solutions to global issues • advocate reforms to global governance arrangements so that they become more responsive to the Pretoria concerns University Law Press www.pulp.up.ac.za of the global South. And become more accountable. Secondly, we recommend changing the way which foreign policy is designed. The Presidency should establish an inter-agency coordinating council that can formulate a coherent and effective foreign policy. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation should then lead implementation. Our third recommendation is that Parliament and the Chapter 9 institutions should play a role in foreign policy making. These institutions support the country’s constitutional democracy. For example, the Human Rights Commission could issue an annual report assessing how effectively the government has used international relations to advance human rights at PULP Values, Interests and Power South African foreign policy in uncertain times Edited by Bradlow and Sidiropoulos PULP Values, Interests and Power South African foreign policy in uncertain times Edited by Daniel D. Bradlow and Elizabeth Sidiropoulos ___ __ South Africa is bounded by two major oceans and its exclusive economic zone is bigger than its land mass. The country needs a clear strategy to protect its interests as the Indian Ocean is now seen as part of a bigger maritime space stretching from the Pacific to the east coast of Africa. The Conversation. Creative Commons licence 18 | Service magazine
governance S Climate change The country has played an important leadership role in the global United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations. To continue playing this role credibly, it should reduce the inconsistencies between its domestic and global climate change related policies. It needs to stress in both arenas the important relationship between climate change and social justice. Peace and security South Africa should draw lessons from its experiences in African peace-making about how it can help African regional bodies end conflicts. We also recommend that the country develops a maritime strategy. This is important for two reasons. First, South Africa is bounded by two major oceans. Its exclusive economic zone is bigger than its land mass. Second, external actors are becoming increasingly interested in the Indian Ocean. They see it as part of a bigger maritime space stretching from the Pacific to the east coast of Africa. Without such a strategy, it will be difficult for the country to protect its interests. home. In addition, there should be an annual meeting with these bodies to discuss the government’s foreign policy objectives for the year ahead. This could be run by the executive through the Presidency or the foreign relations department. We recommend that a concerted effort be made to ensure that foreign service staff have the technical and language skills to deal with the expanding range of issues facing the country on the global arena. Equally important, they should also understand the links between domestic social and economic transformation and foreign policy. TOP OF MIND TOPICS We also make recommendations on specific topics. Economic development and cooperation South Africa needs to pay attention to its trade and economic relations, particularly in Africa. For example, the new African Continental Free Trade Area should open important trading and job-creating opportunities. It will also help develop regional value chains. We recommend that the government, business, labour and other stakeholders develop an integrated strategy to take advantage of these opportunities. The Presidency should establish an inter-agency coordinating council that can formulate a coherent and effective foreign policy. The multilateral system Middle-sized powers like South Africa need a reformed multilateral system. It should, therefore, continue to be engaged in the debates on reforming it. Given resource constraints, it needs to focus on institutions where reform is feasible. These include the World Trade Organization, the IMF and the World Bank. Reforms should focus on creating greater voice for underrepresented countries, and more public accountability and transparency. South Africa should also use its platform in global forums like the G20 and BRICS to promote issues of concern to Africa, and to foster greater inter-regional cooperation. NEED FOR COHERENCE A foreign policy that looks incoherent – or is merely reactive – can have both reputational and material costs. We hope this book contributes to improving the gains the country can make from its international relations. S • Elizabeth Sidiropolous, CEO, South African Institute of International Affairs, contributed to this article. Service magazine | 19
