South African Foreign Policy and African Drivers: Overview

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As we begin the second decade of the 21^st century, Africa remains on the margins of the global economy. The continent is still home to the largest share of least developed states in the world and there is no doubt that Africa continues to face significant developmental, political and economic challenges.  However, according to the IMF, the past decade also saw the fastest economic growth since the boom period of the 1960s on the back of significant political and economic reforms in the 1990s. It is crucial that the positive momentum is retained and supported in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, especially in those countries that play a key role in driving growth in their regions.

SAIIA’s South African Foreign Policy and African Drivers (SAFPAD) research cluster emerged from this need to explore ways in which key African countries can more effectively foster development in their regions and on the continent.  South Africa’s key role in shaping the ‘African agenda’ during the past decade places it at the centre of such analysis.  SAIIA’s SAFPAD research cluster therefore combines two key research areas of the Institute, namely South Africa’s foreign policy towards its region and the former’s intersection with the foreign policies of key African states.

SAIIA’s research on South Africa’s regional foreign policy unpacks South Africa’s post-1994 Africa policy in three areas: South Africa as a norm setter in the region; the potential for regional co-operation with key African states and other external partners in the region; stabilisation and development on the continent.

The second research area of this cluster focuses on African Driver countries.  What is an African Driver? In recent literature we are told about the crucial role that the Asian Drivers – India and China – are playing in the global political and economic landscape. These countries are also described in International Relations literature as pivotal states, anchor countries, emerging powers and sometimes even as hegemonic players. All of these states could be regarded as “drivers” either in a positive or in a negative sense.

We distinguish between two categories of African Drivers. The first category comprises those African countries that have a fairly developed soft and hard infrastructure; a well-developed and fairly diversified economy; relative political stability; and project soft and hard power regionally and/or globally, i.e. they play a leadership role in their regions. These countries increasingly play an influential role in shaping international relations, both in their respective regions and globally.  Examples of such countries include South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria.  They are regarded as indispensable partners in addressing global challenges such as poverty reduction, peacekeeping, climate and environmental protection, creating a just global economy and establishing democracy and good governance.

The second category of drivers are those countries which may not be entirely politically stable; may still have a commodity-dependent economy; may or may not play a regional role, but their well-being is critically important for regional development and progress, and they may still be considered a least developed country (LDC). Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) fall into this group of countries.

We have identified twelve African countries in terms of their potential clout regionally, and rising influence, globally. They are: Angola, Botswana, the DRC, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Our African Drivers programme seeks to provide a greater understanding of the intricacies underlying the socio-economic and political landscapes of these countries, more specifically, how these factors shape their regional and international engagement.

In sum, therefore, our motivation to embark on an understanding of African Driver countries is underpinned by three key elements. The first is an understanding of the internal dynamics of important African players with a view to strengthening good governance, democracy and policymaking. The second is to analyse the role that these countries are playing in their respective regions, both negative and positive, with a view to strengthening regional stability and development on the continent. The third, is the interface with South African foreign policymaking, i.e. to further bilateral cooperation between key African states and South Africa, as well as to explore the possibility of trilateral cooperation with third partners in support of continental objectives.

SAIIA’s work in this area builds on ongoing research conducted since 2000 on South Africa’s role as a peace-builder in the region, the challenges of regional security integration, South Africa as a shaper of the continental architecture of Africa, and lastly, key challenges facing the continent.  See here for further information.

Staff

Funding

SAIIA's research on South African Foreign Policy and African Drivers is supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).