South Africa's and the World's Second Dance of Freedom

The author reflects on three major shifts in global history—the end of Eurocentrism and Empire, the end of the Cold War, and a current shift away from Anglo-Saxon dominance—while arguing that South Africa's future depends on an active, self-reliant citizenry rather than a reliance on 'great men' leaders.

• The author identifies three historical shifts in 'mankind’s centre of gravity'. The first was the end of the Eurocentric period and Empire, characterized by the rise of the nation state, the spread of democracy, and the rise of the United States. The second was the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and China's adoption of market economics. The third, current shift is the end of an era where 'Anglo Saxon conceptions of economic and political order went unchallenged' and the US acted as the primary agenda setter.
• South Africa is described as having played a significant role in the first two global shifts. The author suggests the demise of the British Empire can be traced to the Anglo Boer War and notes Jan Smuts's influence in converting Empire to a Commonwealth. Regarding the second shift, the author links the end of Apartheid to the collapse of the Berlin Wall and highlights Nelson Mandela's association with the 'dramatic spread of Freedom'.
• The author argues that South African citizens must move away from waiting for charismatic leaders like Smuts or Mandela and instead take personal responsibility for their destinies. This 'active citizenry' includes breadwinners creating their own economic activity, parents monitoring their children's education, and individuals managing their own health (specifically regarding AIDS) and finances.
• The author characterizes South Africa as a 'nation under construction' that remains fragile and at risk of 'fragmentation, division and violent conflict'. This instability persists because a common national identity has not yet been developed, with many white South Africans identifying as 'South African' while many black South Africans identify as 'African'.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2009). South Africa's and the World's Second Dance of Freedom. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africas-and-the-worlds-second-dance-of-freedom/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. South Africa's and the World's Second Dance of Freedom. 2009. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africas-and-the-worlds-second-dance-of-freedom/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=South Africa's and the World's Second Dance of Freedom |date=29 May 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africas-and-the-worlds-second-dance-of-freedom/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2009south, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{South Africa's and the World's Second Dance of Freedom}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africas-and-the-worlds-second-dance-of-freedom/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }