National Perspectives on Global Leadership: South Africa

This report examines South Africa's perspective on the G20 summits in Washington and London, focusing on the country's interests in global financial stability, its role as a representative for other African nations, and the internal political dynamics influencing its foreign policy.

• South Africa viewed the G20's regulatory agenda as important for global stability, though not a primary priority since its own financial sector remained relatively unaffected by the crisis. However, the country sought greater influence over multilateral regulations, viewing the creation of the Financial Stability Board and the IMF's expanded role in global surveillance as significant outcomes.
• South Africa faced risks regarding its current account deficit, which was funded by short-term portfolio inflows; there were concerns that a credit crunch could lead to a currency crisis. While the London Summit did not address this directly, the resulting positive market sentiment helped alleviate these fears.
• As the only African nation in the G20, South Africa advocated for other African states, particularly regarding the maintenance of development assistance and private flows. The London Summit was seen as positive due to announcements on IMF capital injections, overseas development assistance (ODA) for poor countries, and increased trade finance funding.
• The document notes that South Africa's future foreign policy and standing in the geopolitical order may depend on internal power struggles within the African National Congress (ANC). A shift toward a more ideological, anti-liberal, or anti-West policy could limit alliance possibilities within the G20.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2009). National Perspectives on Global Leadership: South Africa. https://saiia.org.za/research/national-perspectives-on-global-leadership-south-africa-2/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. National Perspectives on Global Leadership: South Africa. 2009. https://saiia.org.za/research/national-perspectives-on-global-leadership-south-africa-2/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=National Perspectives on Global Leadership: South Africa |date=30 June 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/national-perspectives-on-global-leadership-south-africa-2/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2009national, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{National Perspectives on Global Leadership: South Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/national-perspectives-on-global-leadership-south-africa-2/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }