Tendencies and Challenges of South Africa to be a Regional Power.pdf (original) (raw)
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Southern Africa after Apartheid: Regional Integration and External Resources
African Economic History, 1994
The planning of this seminar has involved close cooperation between the Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, Chr. Michelsen Institute in Bergen, Norway, and the Centre for Development Research in Copenhagen, Denmark. The main objective of the seminar was to examine some of the issues related to alternative modes of regional integration and cooperation and their relevance to Southern Africa after apartheid in a postcold-war world. In this context attention has also been paid to the role of external resources, especially development aid. To carry out a multi-dimensional analysis, the seminar approached the topic from four different perspectives: integration theory, an issue oriented approach, an organisational approach and finally from the standpoint of external resources. The number of topics that may be considered under the heading of an "issue-oriented" approach is almost unlimited. All of them cannot be covered during one seminar, which means that a number of perspectives relevant to regional development are absent, such as gender, environment, and the role of economic restructuring at the national level. Focusing on certain aspects inevitably marginalizes others. This volume contains an edited selection of the papers presented at the seminar following revision by the authors. Together they provide a multidisciplinary , social science perspective on the issue of the development of the post-cold war and post-apartheid Southern Africa. It should be seen as a Nordic-Southern Africa contribution to the ongoing international academic and aid agency discussion on the future of the Southern Africa region. Special thanks to Gun-Britt Nilsson for her tireless and creative editing support and assistance. Uppsala, October, 1992 Bertil Ode'n 12 Beutil Ode'n established lines. The perspectives and analysis in this book, concerned with the organisational setup in the region will therefore still be of interest and the functional and theoretical perspectives are as relevant for SADC as for SADCC. The chapters in this book follow the outline of the original seminar, which means they are divided into four categories, following the perspectives already mentioned; i.e. integration theory, issues, organisation and external resource-flows. REGIONAL INTEGRATION THEORY-WHAT RELEVANCE FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA ? Which theoretical framework is most applicable to the Southern Africa situation? Two papers presented at the seminar tried to examine this central question. Tom Ostergaard in his chapter Classical Models of Regional Integration: What Relevance for Southern Africa? carries out a critical review of the relevance of the classical models of regional integration to South Africa. He identifies and examines the market integration theory, the development integration model and the neo-functional model. His conclusion is that none of these three theories in its pure form is suitable for the Southern Africa situation, although elements in them might be useful and some eclectic combination might therefore be advisable. As a case he applies the theories to SADCC and concludes that SADCC cannot be considered a development integration scheme, and thus does not fit into any of the three models. He agrees with the suggestion that the SADCC approach should rather be characterized as "sectoral programming". Experience demonstrates that regional integration is inherently complicated. For a number of reasons, it is particularly difficult in Southern Africa. As the economies are overwhelmingly geared to supplying raw materials to overseas markets, the current economic interaction among the countries of the region is limited. Furthermore, the countries are generally poor, the economies are stagnant, and class formation is limited. Finally, many of the countries are undergoing political crises and the states are still preoccupied with nation building. 0stergaard's conclusion is that Southern Africa needs a less ambitious model of regional integration. The SADCC experience suggests the usefulness of adopting a much narrower scale of operation. The choice of activities should be guided primarily by the articulated needs from within the countries concerned. It should flow from the. bottom and up. The present minority government and much of the corporate sector-the orthodox perspective-seem to view future cooperation as little more than a return to a somewhat modified version of the old (i.e. pre 1970s) "normality". In the short run this would boost South African trade and possibly allow for unhampered capital movement. The role of South Africa as the "natural gateway" to the whole region for overseas trade and investment is also put forward. The main alternative perspective emerging within the democratic movement in South Africa is based on the view that regional trade and other economic relations need to be restructured as an integral part of a process of transforming the existing growth path. This is not just a matter of equity. This means that regional cooperation forms an important part in a project to change the present South African production structure in order to reduce its present dependence on exports of primary products. Davies thus envisages a mutually beneficial, negotiated restructu-This argument applies a forfiori to a situation in which South Africa becomes a legitimate player. Two sorts of justification are relevant. First, the normative, to pursue equity and a fair distribution of costs and benefits. Second, equity issues are the core of the regional project. In the following chapter, SADCC; Future Challenges, Emang Mothlabane Maphanyane from the SADCC Secretariat answers some of the criticism from different quarters felt by the organisation. The 1. Continued support should be given to assist poor countries to "put their house in order". 2. A special case can be made for substantial aid to resettlement, restructuring and rehabilitation in Angola and Mozambique, provided the process towards peace in these two countries is successful. 3. The special situation of South Africa ought to be a sufficient justification for aid in spite of the high GDP/capita. Two aid priorities should be kept in mind: support should be given in all possible terms to the fragile, emerging democracy and its institutions as well as to the acceleration of poverty alleviation. 4. SADCC's Programme of Action should receive continued support, with the emphasis shifting from project investment to management, maintenance, training and effective planning.
South Africa in Africa: from national capitalism to regional integration
The Political Economy of Africa, 2010
Africa is held back by the internal confusion of its regional associations. Classical liberalism offers an answer: build the widest possible area of protected free trade and movement, with minimal and harmonized regulation by the authorities. Africans must develop their own transnational associations to combat those who would deny them self-development. Proposals for integration of trade and finance have taken at the African Union; but this means relying on the political class that has failed Africans. The boundaries of free commerce and of political intervention should be pushed beyond the limits of existing sovereignties. The Southern African Development Community is also mired in nationalist politics, a plethora of tariff arrangements, and bilateral deals. Stability, development and democracy will only be achieved in when a regional hegemon is prepared to underwrite these objectives. South Africa’s economic fate is bound up with the rest of the continent. Its African National Congress government has so far sought to disguise its economic failings by pitting its own citizens against African immigrants. But this is a young country and, if Africa’s population explosion is to pay economic dividends, stronger regional systems—with the active involvement of civil society associations—must overcome the fragmentation of 55 weak nation-states.
Journal of Nation-building & Policy Studies, 2020
The study aimed at underscoring the benefits of post-apartheid regional integration, South Africa’s socio-economic and political efforts in Southern Africa post-1994 by using a largely qualitative method supplemented by secondary data. The notion of regional integration has long been on the minds of African heads of states with particular reference to post-colonial era. Regional integration was viewed as a noteworthy mechanism to uplift the economic growth and development of African states. In this vein, countries with relatively robust economies and often labelled hegemonic states were seen as vital role players to the development of their sub-regions and Africa as a whole. Hence, from its smooth democratic transition from apartheid to democracy, post-1994 and as a result of its relatively robust economy, South Africa was expected to utilize its hegemonic stance to steer Southern Africa’s regional integration blueprints. Indeed, regional integration is an important element in Africa’s quest for development. While South Africa has encountered vast challenges domestically and afar mainly because of the huge social divide and the history of apartheid in Southern Africa, with its robust soft and hard power attributes, Pretoria has a significant role to play in the current and future development of the region.
South Africa in the global context: The view from above and below
Annals of Regional Science, 2003
Perceptions differ on the positive impact globalization has on the economic environment of the developed and developing world. This paper identifies elements of the African economic make-up that could hinder or assist in the reconnection of the region into the global economic society. It then discusses structural changes that have occurred in South Africa's economic and demographic profile over the past two decades to demonstrate how different sections of the country's population have reacted to threats and opportunities posed by changing local, regional and global circumstances in recent years. Particular emphasis is placed in the latter part of the paper on the dominant role that the Greater Johannesburg urban agglomeration plays nationally and internationally and the way in which changing agglomeration forces have influenced the relocation of multinationals in the metropolitan region.