Papers by chris landsberg
Lynne Rienner Publishers eBooks, Dec 31, 2000
International political economy series, 2021
When South Africa originally joined BRICS, it had no palpable strategy towards this new-fangled c... more When South Africa originally joined BRICS, it had no palpable strategy towards this new-fangled constellation; it initially responded to the BRICS invitation as a boost to its international ‘prestige’. As time went on, we saw a bit by bit, almost frantic search for a strategy. As it unfolded South Africa started to stress domestic, regional and international rationales which underscored its BRICS participation. It highlighted the potential for massive economic spin-off to be had from BRICS that could boost its ailing economy at home. It further viewed BRICS as a boost to its African leadership aspirations. BRIC members singled out South Africa as a ‘gateway’ to Africa that could help to secure access to the African market during a time of ‘Africa rising’. From the perspectives of geoeconomic, geopolitical and geostrategic calculations, South Africa developed rather bold and ambitious goals vis-à-vis BRICS, viewing BRICS as both a countervailing force in a western-dominated world order, and even regarded BRICS as a potential alternative to the capitalist order that was dominated by the western powers.
Indicator South Africa, 1998
... As Matlosa and Mbaya have argued, ruling parties dominate not only in the legislature but mor... more ... As Matlosa and Mbaya have argued, ruling parties dominate not only in the legislature but more importantly, in the executive organ as well, which in turn provides undue influence ... 8 Kenneth Good, 'Background to Botswana's forthcoming 2004 election', EISA, Election Talk, no. ...
Indicator South Africa, 1995
Van Schaik eBooks, 2011
As the end of the second decade of democracy in South Africa approaches, deep political and socia... more As the end of the second decade of democracy in South Africa approaches, deep political and social scars remain, and negativity continues to co-exist with hope and optimism. Practical issues of governance have become pertinent: accountability, delivery of services, balancing the state budget, macroeconomic policies to encourage sustainable growth and fighting corruption in the state sector. Government and politics in South Africa is an introductory narrative on the government and politics of contemporary South Africa, covering both key political institutions and major processes and policies. Government and politics in South Africa provides an analysis and evaluation of South Africa's political transitions; national, provincial and local government; party politics and the policy dynamics associated with these governments; and international political economy and foreign policy. It is based on the historic 1994 democratic settlement and the political developments and practices in the country since then, from the election of Nelson Mandela as the first head of state, to the emergence of the Jacob Zuma presidency. Government and politics in South Africa is aimed at students and other interested observers to the intricacies of South African politics and the operations of the country's governments.
Macmillan eBooks, 2010
From banished spectator to assertive actor, white supremacist South Africa emerged from the cold ... more From banished spectator to assertive actor, white supremacist South Africa emerged from the cold decades of international pariah-hood to play a transformational role in world affairs. Nearly two decades after the new Republic was democratically and constitutionally reconfigured, what have been the foreign policy agendas and ideologies of successive South African governments? How was foreign policy formulated? What instruments of diplomacy and statecraft did various governments use to execute their agendas? And how have successive governments viewed South Africa in relation to the sub-region, the broader African continent, the global South, the industrialised North, and the global governance terrain? These are the central questions addressed in The Diplomacy of Transformation as it moves from the period of white minority domination, starting in 1910, through successive governments and transitions, including the De Klerk moment, the Mandela years, the Mbeki era, the Motlanthe months, and the emerging Jacob Zuma period. For scholars, diplomats and interested readers alike, this is an interpretive and accessible analysis that opens up fresh insights into a century of the country's diplomatic history.
Lynne Rienner Publishers eBooks, May 1, 2006
Africa insight, Dec 1, 2012
This special edition of Africa Insight focuses on the African Union (AU) after a decade since its... more This special edition of Africa Insight focuses on the African Union (AU) after a decade since its inception. The idea is to cast a critical eye over the past 10 years of the AU, successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), who will itself in 2013 commemorate 50 years since its establishment in 1963. Writing in May 2012, one of the chief architects of the AU and of Africa's post-Cold War Continental Order, former South African president Thabo Mbeki remarked in the form of two probing questions: 1 As we celebrate the first decade of both the AU and NEPAD, and prepare to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the OAU next year we must answer these questions honestly: • What progress have we made towards the achievement of the objectives of the OAU, the AU and NEPAD? And, • What shall we do in this regard? This special edition will respond to these questions, and critically gauge the continent's peace and security, governance, development and cooperation architecture which have emerged over the past decade. To help unravel these questions, we were able to solicit articles from prominent analysts, not in the least CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk
Wits University Press eBooks, Aug 25, 2018
Routledge eBooks, Dec 31, 2020
In November 2017 the fifth EU-Africa summit took place in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. It presented an... more In November 2017 the fifth EU-Africa summit took place in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. It presented an opportunity to showcase the EU’s ‘new’ approach to international affairs, the Global Strategy (2016). As the most recent contribution to the EU’s foreign policy framework there has been a burgeoning body of analysis considering its content (what has changed, and what has stayed the same). But what does the Global Strategy really mean for the EU’s external relations? The challenge of foreign policy is that what is set out in rhetoric often finds a different form in practice. This chapter argues that it is the divergence between the stated EU foreign policy principles and what happens in practice that has resulted in cooling EU-Africa relations. Even where policy priorities convergence, as in the role of multilateralism in the promotion of principles and norms, in practice the EU and AU differ on how this should be approached. While the EU Global Strategy looks to reconcile foreign policy gaps through ‘principled pragmatism’, given the inward-looking nature of the strategy and the AU’s own emphasis on developing its international agency, EU-AU relations will continue to be adrift.N/
Africa Review, 2018
This paper adopts the logic of concentric circles to unpack the multilevel approach that characte... more This paper adopts the logic of concentric circles to unpack the multilevel approach that characterizes South Africa’s interface with climate change. The post-1994 South Africa interacted with climate change at multiple levels. At some points, South Africa’s response to climate change is guided strictly by the dictates of its overriding national interests. At another, it is a question of either serving a continental ‘representative’ or ‘leading voice’ for groupings of major importance within the global South regarding climate change. Also, South Africa’s climate diplomacy on the global scene ranks relatively high when compared with the scenarios concerning other emerging and even a good number of industrialized economies. Therefore, it is not certain how the policy emphasis is shifting radially across the interest-chain of South Africa’s relations in the context of climate change. As a key finding, this paper argues that South Africa’s super-state posture leaves one to wonder how con...
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Papers by chris landsberg