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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Vulnerability and Viability of Small States in Southern Africa in a Post-Apartheid Era: Is South Africa Still 'Big Brother'?
Author:Matlosa, KhabeleISNI
Year:1997
Periodical:Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies (ISSN 0256-2316)
Volume:11
Issue:2
Pages:117-131
Language:English
Notes:biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:Southern Africa
South Africa
Subjects:foreign policy
Inter-African Relations
Politics and Government
Economics and Trade
international relations
politics
Political reform
apartheid
Regional policy
External link:https://d.lib.msu.edu/pula/252/OBJ/download
Abstract:Scholarly debate in the late 1980s projected four scenarios that would shape postapartheid relations between South Africa and the smaller States in southern Africa: a neomercantilist approach to regional cooperation; hegemonic bilateralism; State-driven, but market-friendly, multilateral arrangements based on cooperative regionalism; and South Africa adopting an isolationist attitude towards the region and strengthening its vertical integration with the developed, industrialized countries. Actually, the current situation reflects a combination of these scenarios. Due to lack of internal consensus on regional policy, South Africa sends contradictory and confusing messages to its smaller and poorer neighbours, notably the kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland. Although South Africa remains a Big Brother, its regional role of cooperation and diplomatic engagement is driven by benign intent. However, its regional foreign policy is informed foremost by its own strategic interest. Intervention in the internal conflicts of Lesotho and Swaziland has exposed their vulnerability and even their viability as autonomous political entities. Bibliogr., sum.
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