One year after the World Cup: Africa and South Africa on the international playing field

One year after the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the author contends that South Africa must translate the success of the event into diplomatic action. By utilizing its positions in SADC, the AU, and the UN Security Council, South Africa is urged to address critical issues such as the Zimbabwe stalemate, crises in Libya and Cote d’Ivoire, and conflicts in Somalia, Darfur, and Abyei, thereby challenging 'Afro-pessimism' through substantive political leadership.

• The 2010 FIFA World Cup was utilized as a foreign policy tool to promote the 'African Renaissance' and the goals of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), aiming to improve the continent's international image and economic prospects.
• The author suggests that South Africa should use the 'soft power' generated by the World Cup to address 'hard issues' via its leadership roles in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• Regarding SADC, South Africa is positioned to push for a new constitution in Zimbabwe before elections, though the author notes that progress on the Madagascar crisis has been negligible.
• The author argues that indecision within the AU regarding crises in Libya and Cote d’Ivoire allowed Western powers, specifically NATO and France, to prioritize their own national interests over 'African solutions'.
• During its 2011-2012 tenure on the UNSC, South Africa, alongside Gabon and Nigeria, is encouraged to challenge 'double standards' regarding African conflicts, specifically mentioning the need for a no-fly zone and naval blockade in Somalia.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2011). One year after the World Cup: Africa and South Africa on the international playing field. https://saiia.org.za/research/one-year-after-the-world-cup-africa-and-south-africa-on-the-international-playing-field/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. One year after the World Cup: Africa and South Africa on the international playing field. 2011. https://saiia.org.za/research/one-year-after-the-world-cup-africa-and-south-africa-on-the-international-playing-field/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=One year after the World Cup: Africa and South Africa on the international playing field |date=11 July 2011 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/one-year-after-the-world-cup-africa-and-south-africa-on-the-international-playing-field/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2011one, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{One year after the World Cup: Africa and South Africa on the international playing field}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2011}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/one-year-after-the-world-cup-africa-and-south-africa-on-the-international-playing-field/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }