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This policy brief examines how the World Bank, IMF, and international trade/investment agreements (such as GATS and BITs) pressure developing countries to privatize water services. It argues that these mechanisms often create 'lock-in' effects, where legally binding international obligations prevent governments from regulating water prices or reversing privatization to protect the human right to water. The document emphasizes that water is a social and cultural good, not merely a commodity, and urges policy makers to conduct thorough human rights and environmental assessments before committing to liberalization.

The first issue of the SADC Barometer, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in March 2003, evaluates the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) internal restructuring, regional security integration, and economic convergence. The report highlights significant disparities between South Africa and other member states, the impact of HIV/AIDS on food security, and the challenges of implementing a regional Free Trade Area (FTA) amidst non-tariff barriers and political instability in countries like Zimbabwe.

This research paper examines the political economy of land reform in Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique, focusing on the legacies of settler colonialism and the challenges of redistributing land to rural populations. It analyzes the different strategies employed by each nation—ranging from Zimbabwe's 'fast track' land invasions and Namibia's 'willing-seller' model to Mozambique's hybrid legal system—and discusses the regional economic implications of these policies, including their impact on foreign investment and trade within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

This research paper by Nandile Ngubentombi examines South Africa's foreign policy toward Swaziland and Zimbabwe, focusing on the use of 'quiet diplomacy' and 'persuasive diplomacy' to address political crises and human rights abuses. The author analyzes why South Africa's approach differs between the two nations, noting that while both suffer from tyrannical leadership and political suppression, Zimbabwe's larger economic scale makes its instability a greater regional threat, whereas Swaziland's smaller size results in less regional concern despite its absolute monarchy.

This report by Jenny Clover for the Institute for Security Studies examines the debate over Genetically Modified (GM) foods in Africa, specifically within the context of a food crisis in Southern Africa in 2002. The author argues that while GM technology offers potential productive gains, it cannot solve hunger on its own because food security is a complex issue involving economic, social, and political factors. The document highlights the tension between immediate humanitarian needs for food aid and long-term concerns regarding biodiversity, multinational corporate control of seeds, and trade restrictions, particularly with the European Union.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's foreign policy toward Zimbabwe from 1994 to 2002, arguing that Zimbabwe has been of marginal interest to Pretoria despite deep historical, economic, and security links. The author identifies three phases of policy: an initial lack of specific policy, a period of brinkmanship and frustration (1994–1999), and a subsequent 'twin-track' approach of constructive engagement and containment starting in 2000. The paper highlights the economic devastation in Zimbabwe following the lapse of a 1964 Customs Agreement and the failure of the two nations to establish a cohesive regional security mechanism within SADC.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the role of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in controlling the northern and eastern borders of South Africa. It details the operational structure of the Regional Joint Task Force: North (RJTFN), the resources available for border patrol, identified illegal crossing points, and trends in firearm seizures and smuggling between August 1999 and October 2000.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa, focusing on the failures of disarmament and demobilisation in UN peacekeeping operations and the subsequent rise of illicit arms trafficking. It argues that the lack of effective weapons control during conflict resolution processes has fueled regional instability and criminal activity, while proposing a coordinated regional approach involving SADC, SARPCCO, and the OAU to manage stocks and reduce the culture of violence.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the evolution of security architectures in Southern Africa, tracing the transition from the informal Front-Line States (FLS) alliance to the formal structures of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), specifically the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC), and the Southern African Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO).

This research paper introduces the 'Towards Collaborative Peace' (TCP) project by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), which examines the illegal trade of small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa. The document outlines the project's goal to analyze how the proliferation of weapons—resulting from conflict legacies and porous borders—contributes to a 'culture of violence' and undermines democratization and socio-economic development in the region.

This research paper assesses Western efforts to develop African peacekeeping capabilities in the late 1990s, specifically focusing on the 'P-3 Initiative' (US, UK, and France) and Danish contributions. The authors argue that while these capacity-building programs provide tangible training and equipment, they are primarily driven by Western domestic political desires to avoid direct military or financial involvement in African conflicts. The document also details the institutional, financial, and operational limitations of African regional bodies like the OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS in managing peace and security independently.

This 1998 report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the nature and origins of organised crime in South Africa, tracing its evolution from domestic street gangs to sophisticated transnational networks. It examines the impact of political transition, the role of state corruption, and the shift in police strategies from incident-driven responses to intelligence-led operations.

This research paper introduces the 'Towards Collaborative Peace' (TCP) project by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), which examines the illegal trade of small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa and their role in fostering a 'culture of violence'. The project employs a south-south approach, comparing trends in Southern Africa with those in the southern part of South America, specifically within the Mercosur countries, to propose regional control mechanisms and local strategies for reversing violence.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the growth of organised crime in South Africa following the transition to democracy in 1990. It analyzes the factors contributing to this growth, the nature of local and international syndicates, and the systemic weaknesses within the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the broader criminal justice system that hinder effective countermeasures.

This research paper by Hussein Solomon of the Institute for Security Studies analyses the transition from the 1995 Draft Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons to the 1997 Draft Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The author argues that the 1995 protocol was overly idealistic and failed to account for extreme economic disparities and security risks, whereas the 1997 protocol adopts a more realistic, incremental approach focused on bilateral agreements and the gradual elimination of obstacles.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the early development of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security. It argues that the Organ is currently underdeveloped, operating primarily at the summit level and through the military-focused Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC), while lacking mechanisms for human rights and democratic governance. The authors propose a comprehensive structural overhaul, including the creation of a Political Co-operation Council, an Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, and a permanent multinational secretariat to move the Organ from a reactive 'fire brigade' role to a proactive regional security framework.

This monograph, published by the Institute for Security Studies in February 1997, examines the strategic utility of naval power for South Africa in the post-Cold War era. It consists of several papers discussing the renewal of the South African Navy (SAN) fleet, the evolving nature of global security, and opportunities for maritime cooperation in the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean rims. The document highlights the SAN's struggle with obsolete equipment and funding shortages while arguing that naval power remains a flexible, benign tool for diplomacy, humanitarian aid, and the protection of marine resources and economic interests.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the evolution of United Nations peace support operations from traditional peacekeeping to Multifunctional Peace Support Operations (MPSOs). It examines the conceptual confusion between peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and enforcement, while highlighting the challenges of deploying missions in failed states and intra-state conflicts. The authors argue for a shift in operational strategy, suggesting that missions should begin with a strong peace-enforcement posture to establish a secure environment before transitioning to peacekeeping and peacebuilding tasks.

This report, written by Mathews Phosa, premier of Mpumalanga province, advocates for the integration of black volunteers into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) part-time forces. Using a pilot program in Mpumalanga as a model, Phosa argues that a needs-driven, part-time volunteer system enhances community security, fosters stability, and develops disciplined citizens capable of contributing to the country's economic growth and reconstruction.

This report provides an overview of a workshop focused on rural electrification in four East African countries, specifically examining obstacles, potential solutions, and the role of bio-electrification, solar, wind, and hydro power.