ANC foreign policy making during the Mbeki period: more democratic or less?

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Periodical article

Title:	ANC foreign policy making during the Mbeki period: more democratic or less?
Author:	Siko, John
Year:	2014
Periodical:	South African Journal of International Affairs (ISSN 1938-0275)
Volume:	21
Issue:	3
Pages:	335-349
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	foreign policy African National Congress (South Africa)
About person:	Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (1942-)
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1080/10220461.2014.972974
Abstract:	The African National Congress, as an entity distinct from government, served during the 1994-2008 period as an independent forum for debate about South Africa's foreign policy, particularly in the National Executive Committee's Subcommittee on International Relations. This debate retained the oligarchic character of the movement in exile, with few voices - Thabo Mbeki's most prominent among them - dominating the discussion, inputs from subnational party structures almost non-existent, and dissenters expected to keep quiet publicly. That said, participants in these discussions largely dismissed characterisations of Mbeki as a dictator in the foreign policy debate, noting that the predominance of his views stemmed mostly from his strong argumentation and knowledge rather than bullying. Senior ANC leaders also claimed that limited interest in foreign policy, outside of national party structures, hindered efforts to broaden participation in foreign policy formulation. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]