Lesotho in southern Africa: from an assertive to a submissive foreign policy

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Periodical article

Title:	Lesotho in southern Africa: from an assertive to a submissive foreign policy
Author:	Sejanamane, Mafa
Year:	1988
Periodical:	Lesotho Law Journal: A Journal of Law and Development
Volume:	4
Issue:	2
Pages:	7-31
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Lesotho South Africa
Subject:	foreign policy
Abstract:	For small States, survival strategies are bound closely to both a cooperative internal and international environment. In the final analysis, the security policy pursued by Lesotho under Jonathan failed because of the disharmony between its internal and foreign components. Towards the end of 1985, the intensity of South African pressure on Lesotho increased dramatically and at the same time domestic tension in Lesotho was fuelled by the call for general elections which had not been held since 1970. A combination of these developments ultimately led to the overthrow of the Jonathan regime by the army towards the end of January 1986. It soon emerged that the new regime had reached an 'understanding' of some sort with the South African regime, and the current pattern indicates that the interests and security of Lesotho have taken second place to serving South African objectives in southern Africa. Such an isolationist-collaborationist policy increases rather than decreases vulnerability. Notes, ref.