South Africa has committed itself to an injection of=20 human rights principles into its foreign policy. As one=20 expert argues , there is no simple, mechanistic way to=20 do this. To refuse to have any contact or trade with=20 countries who show disrespect for human rights is to=20 condemn ourselves to a return to international=20 isolation, this time a voluntary one. Nor is this=20 always a way of pressurising these countries to change=20 their views.
A more sophisticated approach requires that each=20 situation be carefully weighed up and the most=20 effective and constructive approach found for each of=20 them: for some it will be gentle diplomatic pressure,=20 for others aggressive finger-waving, and for a=20 recalcitrant few it will be some form of isolation,=20 which in itself can come in various degrees. It is=20 foolhardy, for example, to give Nigeria’s proud=20 military bosses the sense that outsiders, like the=20 imperialists of old, are telling them what to do. They=20 will react negatively. And in the case of Cuba, it is=20 probably more helpful to keep doors open and pressurise=20 for human rights improvements, rather than slam them=20 shut under United States pressure.
But these are subtle approaches which need to be based=20 on informed and nuanced debate. Why, for example, will=20 we not sell arms to Iran, but will store for them their=20 strategic oil reserves?
So when our arms industry attempts to keep secret the=20 complex political decisions over whom we may sell arms=20 to, and who is excluded because of our human rights=20 policy, it is condemning itself to make mistakes and=20 bear the consequences alone.
The foreign policy old guard will argue that you cannot=20 conduct international business in this kind of free- for-all. We would argue that you cannot conduct it any=20 longer in a secret way.
In fact, the industry and foreign affairs experts can=20 say with some pride that the documents we publish this=20 week show that they have moved significantly to take on=20 board our new foreign policies. Why hide it?