South Africa’s Foreign Policy: Tempering Dominance Through Integration

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the tension between South Africa's regional dominance and its aspirations for integration in Southern Africa. Drawing on a 2013 perceptions survey of foreign policy practitioners, the author analyzes how South Africa's economic, political, and security influence is perceived by its neighbors and suggests ways to improve regional legitimacy through increased consultation and multilateralism.

• South Africa's foreign policy in Southern Africa is characterized by a struggle to balance its inherent economic and political dominance with a desire for regional integration and trust-building. This often results in a 'forked approach' where the country is subdued and prefers 'quiet diplomacy' on political and military issues, but remains assertive and aggressive in its economic engagements.
• There is a significant perception among Southern African neighbors that South Africa behaves as a 'big brother,' often acting unilaterally or lacking sufficient consultation. A specific example cited is the 2012 candidacy of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for AU Chairperson, where regional partners felt 'strong-armed' and 'rubber stamp' decisions rather than being consulted.
• South Africa's economic dominance is stark, with an economy nearly 40 times larger than the average sub-Saharan economy. While the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) provides a mechanism for revenue sharing to compensate BLNS countries (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and Swaziland), South Africa has sought to renegotiate these terms due to its own budget deficits and a desire for more developmental spending.
• Regional perceptions of South Africa's credibility as an African representative are contested. Critics point to internal failures, such as corruption and ineffective socio-economic policies, as factors that undermine its right to determine an 'African Agenda.' Additionally, its support for UN Security Council Resolution 1973 regarding a no-fly zone over Libya was seen by some as a failure to be sufficiently consultative with other African nations.
• South Africa employs a 'human security' approach to peacebuilding, prioritizing negotiated settlements and providing disaster relief, such as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) assisting Mozambique with flood relief. While its peacekeeping presence is viewed as 'impressive,' there is a gap between regional expectations and reality; neighbors perceive the SANDF as well-equipped, whereas the 2014 defence review indicates the military is underfunded by 24% and faces capacity constraints.
• To improve its regional standing and legitimacy, the author recommends that South Africa increase its consultation with the African diplomatic corps and elevate the position of SADC to the Deputy Director-General (DDG) level within the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to better coordinate economic diplomacy with political goals.

APA

Labhadur, A. (2015). South Africa’s Foreign Policy: Tempering Dominance Through Integration. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Occasional-Paper-213.pdf

Chicago

Labhadur, Aditi. South Africa’s Foreign Policy: Tempering Dominance Through Integration. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2015. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Occasional-Paper-213.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Labhadur |first1=Aditi |title=South Africa’s Foreign Policy: Tempering Dominance Through Integration |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=March 2015 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Occasional-Paper-213.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{labhadur2015south, author = {Labhadur, Aditi}, title = {{South Africa’s Foreign Policy: Tempering Dominance Through Integration}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2015}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Occasional-Paper-213.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }