Harmony and Discord South African Foreign Policy Composers

Harmony and Discord South African Foreign Policy “Composers, conductors and players” SAIIA Presentation to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs Friday 15 October 2004

Idealism, personality, realism, and bureaucracy • 1993 New FP thinking • Idealism, internationalism, human rights • Post-apartheid democracy dividend • Global vision • African Renaissance • Policy formulation • Institutionalisation

Foreign policy actors – The Presidency • Mbeki personality, background, experience, intellect • Consolidation and expansion of Presidency • Locus of FP power and policy within Presidency

Presidency and foreign policy President Presidency ANC NEC IRPS cluster Cabinet Office Cabinet ANC IR Comm. PCAS Deputy DG Chief Director IRPS

Actors - DFA • Discontinuity • Transformation • Massive expansion of activities • Lack of focus • Strategic plan to 2005 • Implementation • Mixed picture

Foreign policy actors - ANC • IR department • IR NEC Subcommittee • Most NB for institutional policy coordination • Historical alliances • Socialist International • Regional fraternal ties

Foreign policy actors - parliament • Vision of ’ 96 • Stronger DFA relationship • Oversight ? • Seldom considers legislation • Clear role? • Deliberating on ‘tough’ issues?

Foreign policy actors - business • Not uniform or united • Formal and informal relationships with Presidency • Closer to DTI & MEA than DFA • Mixed relationship with SA missions • Ambiguous - NEPAD • Concern - Zimbabwe

Foreign policy actors - unions • International relations ILO etc • African TU federations • ANC NEC • Globalisation • WTO • NEPAD • Zimbabwe • M. E.

Foreign policy actors – Think Tanks • Expansion, better funding since ’ 94 • Better resources • Better role definition • Better govt engagement • Need for structured relation with PCFA • Need for FPC?

SA and conflict diamonds • Threat to Africa devt. • Role of NGOs and media • Role of business • Role of DFA • Kimberley Process • New international diplomacy • Parliament?

SA and NEPAD • SA and African recovery plans • SA enhanced role • SA Presidency • SA, AU, & G 8 • DFA • Business, unions, TT’s • Parliament?

SA and Zimbabwe • Positions rather than policy • Presidency • ANC, opposition • TT’s, media, churches • Unions • Business • Parliament?

SA - Middle East Economic diplomacy, human rights, war and terror

SA Palestine - Israel • Pre ’ 94 SA – Israel linkages • Historic ANC – PLO fraternal ties • Domestic constituencies • Spier Initiative • DFA flux • Parliament

What you get when you search ‘Sharon’ in Google images

Broad recommendations • Internal re-structuring of PCFA • Establish clear and regular linkages with Presidency on FP/IR • Establish clear and regular linkages with TTs • Convene public hearings on NB FP/IR issues • Strengthen and regularise relations with IR/FP committees in Africa and globally

PCFA Chair IR Sub Comm. Regions Africa Sub Comm. Themes EU, Asia, US, ME SADC, AU, PAP, NEPAD Multilateral Sub Comm. UN etc

Input into PCFA Presidency DFA PCFA Civ Soc TT’s

The PCFA and Think Tanks PCFA Annual presentation Global overview Regional overviews Thematic presentations UN reform Research Background docs Peace and Security Ad hoc briefings

PCFA linkages Intl PCFA Africa Comm

Thank you Questions, clarification, discussion