Nuanced Balancing Act: South Africa’s National and International Interests and its ‘African Agenda’

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates whether South Africa's 'African Agenda' and 'diplomacy of Ubuntu' align with its national interests and constitutional values. The author argues that South Africa is over-extended in its international engagements, often creating contradictions between its commitments to human rights and its strategic partnerships with authoritarian states.

• South Africa's international engagements are characterized by a lack of clear focus because the government attempts to serve too many competing international agendas simultaneously.
• The National Planning Commission (NPC) 2011 draft report suggests that South Africa must prioritize domestic realities and the wellbeing of its people over political ambitions or notions of solidarity when considering African integration.
• There is a perceived disconnect between South Africa's constitutional commitment to human rights and its diplomatic actions, specifically its failure to censure African dictators in the AU and its vacillating positions at the UN regarding interventions in Syria, Libya, Iran, and Zimbabwe.
• The 'African Agenda' is a strategy to position South Africa as an integral part of Africa, aiming to end the continent's marginalization and give Africa a voice in world affairs through the AU and Brics.
• The 'diplomacy of Ubuntu,' as articulated by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), is a value-based approach emphasizing common humanity, interdependence, and a shift from 'power to partnership' in international relations.
• To increase domestic participation in foreign policy, South Africa established the South African Council on International Relations (Sacoir) as a consultative forum for non-state actors and government experts.

APA

Bohler-Muller, N. (2012). Nuanced Balancing Act: South Africa’s National and International Interests and its ‘African Agenda’. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Occasional-Paper-120.pdf

Chicago

Bohler-Muller, Narnia. Nuanced Balancing Act: South Africa’s National and International Interests and its ‘African Agenda’. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2012. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Occasional-Paper-120.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bohler-Muller |first1=Narnia |title=Nuanced Balancing Act: South Africa’s National and International Interests and its ‘African Agenda’ |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2012 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Occasional-Paper-120.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bohlermuller2012nuanced, author = {Bohler-Muller, Narnia}, title = {{Nuanced Balancing Act: South Africa’s National and International Interests and its ‘African Agenda’}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2012}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Occasional-Paper-120.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }