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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:2011 Annual Ruth First Memorial Lecture, University of the Witwatersrand: Looking an international relations gift horse in the mouth: SA's response to the Libyan crisis
Author:McKaiser, EusebiusISNI
Year:2012
Periodical:African Studies (ISSN 1469-2872)
Volume:71
Issue:1
Pages:145-157
Language:English
Geographic terms:South Africa
Libya
Subjects:foreign policy
speeches (form)
External link:https://doi.org/10.1080/00020184.2012.668298
Abstract:Through a close examination of South Africa's response to the crisis in Libya in 2011 the author wonders what principles inform South Africa's foreign policy thinking beyond the human rights rhetoric expressed in an African National Congress (ANC) discussion document on foreign policy in 1993. Are there moral principles? Constitutional principles? Economic interests? Strategic geopolitical considerations? He concludes that the South African response to the Libyan crisis was marred by poor public diplomacy, failure to follow through on its thinking about the crisis with successful action and an absence of guiding principles. In the end, these weaknesses reflect gross underinvestment, politically and materially, in an area of government that deserves much greater attention. If South Africa is serious about delivering 'African solutions for African problems' then it must urgently and seriously invest in the AU. On the domestic political scene, foreign policy, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), need to be taken much more seriously by government, and the tripartite alliance. Failing this, the slogan 'African solutions for African problems' will remain a hollow one. Bibliogr., notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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