Statement by SAIIA's National Chairman Mr Fred Phaswana

The statement examines the instability of the Arab Spring, the complexities of the 'responsibility to protect' doctrine, and the geopolitical shift toward state capitalism. It specifically addresses South Africa's diplomatic efforts in Sudan and South Sudan, its aspirations within the African Union, and the role of the South African Development Partnership Agency. The author also highlights SAIIA's ranking as the top think-tank in Sub-Saharan Africa and its youth development initiatives.

• The implementation of the 'responsibility to protect' (R2P) doctrine is challenged by the difficulty of preventing it from becoming a tool for regime change, particularly when there is a disproportionate balance of power between state forces and civilian populations, as seen in Libya and Syria.
• The independence of South Sudan has been complicated by internal ethnic and linguistic diversity and disputes with the Republic of Sudan over oil export income and pipeline access, which are expected to cause ongoing political instability.
• South Africa's foreign policy in the second decade of the 21st century faces challenges regarding its image among African states and its ability to build alliances, with the proposed South African Development Partnership Agency intended as a tool for soft power and influence.
• China's state capitalism model of development is increasingly viewed as a 'market leader' compared to the West's liberal capitalism, though it possesses weaknesses such as the inefficient allocation of state capital and the support of uncompetitive firms.
• SAIIA was ranked as the top think-tank in Sub-Saharan Africa for the third consecutive year in a University of Pennsylvania global survey, including a top ranking for its impact on public policy.

APA

Phaswana, F. (2012). Statement by SAIIA's National Chairman Mr Fred Phaswana. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/news/2012-statement-by-saiias-national-chairman-mr-fred-phaswana/

Chicago

Phaswana, Fred. Statement by SAIIA's National Chairman Mr Fred Phaswana. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2012. https://saiia.org.za/news/2012-statement-by-saiias-national-chairman-mr-fred-phaswana/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Phaswana |first1=Fred |title=Statement by SAIIA's National Chairman Mr Fred Phaswana |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=29 February 2012 |url=https://saiia.org.za/news/2012-statement-by-saiias-national-chairman-mr-fred-phaswana/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{phaswana2012statement, author = {Phaswana, Fred}, title = {{Statement by SAIIA's National Chairman Mr Fred Phaswana}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2012}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/news/2012-statement-by-saiias-national-chairman-mr-fred-phaswana/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }