Human Rights in Foreign Policy and Practice: The South African Case Considered

The document examines the theoretical tension between universal human rights and state sovereignty, using South Africa as a case study. It argues that while human rights are widely accepted as legitimate in foreign policy, their practical application is often hindered by the principle of non-interference. The author critiques South Africa's perceived shift from the moral leadership of the Mandela era toward a policy of protecting state sovereignty, particularly in its dealings with Zimbabwe, Sudan, and Burma. The paper concludes that South Africa must move beyond an absolutist notion of sovereignty and integrate a broader spectrum of human rights—including socio-economic rights—into its concrete foreign policy practice to regain its international reputation.

• The primary challenge to implementing a human rights-oriented foreign policy is the concept of state sovereignty, as codified in Article 2(7) of the UN Charter, which is often used by states to argue against international interference in domestic human rights violations.
• There is a documented tension between a liberal-universal understanding of human rights and an absolutist view of territorial sovereignty, which often leads to a 'realist' approach to international relations based on power and national interest.
• Critics argue that South Africa's foreign policy has shifted away from the human rights activism of the Mandela era, instead aligning with 'global enemies of human rights' and using arguments of sovereignty to shield regimes in Zimbabwe, Sudan, and Burma.
• During the Mbeki administration, South Africa's reputation for promoting human rights was damaged by its 'quiet diplomacy' and perceived tendency to prioritize African solidarity over the adherence to human rights, particularly regarding Zimbabwe and HIV/AIDS.
• While the government of Jacob Zuma showed some positive signals—such as protesting the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and refusing President Al-Bashir's presence at his inauguration—South Africa remained part of an AU decision in July 2009 to ignore the ICC arrest warrant for Al-Bashir.
• The author argues that human rights in foreign policy should not be limited to 'first generation' civil and political rights but must include 'second generation' socio-economic rights, citing the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe as a political and human rights issue that should inform South African foreign policy.

APA

Titus, D. (2009). Human Rights in Foreign Policy and Practice: The South African Case Considered. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Occasional-Paper-52.pdf

Chicago

Titus, Danny. Human Rights in Foreign Policy and Practice: The South African Case Considered. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2009. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Occasional-Paper-52.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Titus |first1=Danny |title=Human Rights in Foreign Policy and Practice: The South African Case Considered |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=November 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Occasional-Paper-52.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{titus2009human, author = {Titus, Danny}, title = {{Human Rights in Foreign Policy and Practice: The South African Case Considered}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Occasional-Paper-52.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }