Moving Beyond Trophy Diplomacy: How to Consolidate South Africa's Position in the World

The document presents findings from a 2013 South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) survey of 60 diplomats and experts in Pretoria and Addis Ababa. It argues that while South Africa's commitment to an 'African Agenda' and peace resolution is respected, its overall strategic direction has become 'confusing' and 'obfuscated' under President Zuma. The briefing warns against 'trophy diplomacy'—attempting to project global influence before maturing as a geopolitical entity—and recommends reviewing the Foreign Policy White Paper to better balance relations between Africa, the West, and the emerging South. It specifically suggests that South Africa leverage shared priorities between East and Southern Africa to resolve stalled negotiations for the Tri-Partite Free Trade Area between COMESA, the ECA, and SADC.

• Foreign policy practitioners perceive South Africa's current strategic direction as unclear and unpredictable, particularly under President Zuma's leadership. While previous administrations were seen as focused on human rights (Mandela) or the 'African Renaissance' (Mbeki), the current approach is described as 'confusing' and lacking strategic direction.
• There is a concern among both African and non-African respondents that South Africa is engaging in 'trophy diplomacy,' which involves attempting to elevate its international status beyond its actual geopolitical maturity, potentially at the expense of relationships with traditional partners and neighbors.
• South Africa's prioritization of Africa in its foreign policy is widely recognized and viewed positively, with the 'African Agenda' message gaining traction. This focus manifests in four inter-linking themes: economic issues, security, peace and conflict resolution, and the primacy of Africa.
• While South Africa is respected for its commitment to negotiated political settlements, there is confusion regarding the specific criteria for its interventions in certain conflicts, such as the deployment of troops to the Central African Republic (CAR).
• Survey data reveals overlapping priorities between East and Southern Africa, including collaboration with the African Union, promoting trade, and reducing poverty. This commonality suggests South Africa could help resolve stalled negotiations for the Tri-Partite Free Trade Area involving COMESA, the ECA, and SADC.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2014). Moving Beyond Trophy Diplomacy: How to Consolidate South Africa's Position in the World. https://saiia.org.za/research/moving-beyond-trophy-diplomacy-how-to-consolidate-south-africas-position-in-the-world/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Moving Beyond Trophy Diplomacy: How to Consolidate South Africa's Position in the World. 2014. https://saiia.org.za/research/moving-beyond-trophy-diplomacy-how-to-consolidate-south-africas-position-in-the-world/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Moving Beyond Trophy Diplomacy: How to Consolidate South Africa's Position in the World |date=19 June 2014 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/moving-beyond-trophy-diplomacy-how-to-consolidate-south-africas-position-in-the-world/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2014moving, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Moving Beyond Trophy Diplomacy: How to Consolidate South Africa's Position in the World}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2014}, month = jun, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/moving-beyond-trophy-diplomacy-how-to-consolidate-south-africas-position-in-the-world/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }