Dr NS Kekana
SOUTH Africa needs a foreign policy which will allow it to emerge as the leader of Africa. It is now a year since a Minister of Foreign Affairs was appointed, but he has yet to point out the direction that should be taken in foreign policy.
The failure of the minister to do so, or the long time that he has taken to evolve a new policy direction, has led to debate and acrimony in certain sections of civil society which are impatiently awaiting a sign.
There have been times when it was crucial for South Africa to come out clearly on the issue of foreign policy, for example during the protracted internal ructions in Mocambique, Angola and Rwanda/Burundi. The United States, highly experienced in such diplomacy, was nudging South Africa to become directly and physically involved in the problems. South Africa was able to become involved at a peripheral level.
The burning question, however, still remains to be answered: what is the foreign policy of South Africa? It is safe to say there is, at the moment, none. But South Africa can learn from the foreign policy formulations of other countries.
The USA, for example, has, since independence in 1783, had three basic concerns for foreign policy. These were: national security, the desire to protect and foster trade, and the feeling of a national mission in sympathising with the cause of freedom and encouraging its growth throughout the world. At first, the USA followed a policy of isolation, neatly summarised by Thomas Jefferson as follows: “Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations — entangling alliances with none.” In 1823, the Monroe Doctrine became the cornerstone of US foreign policy. Briefly stated, the policy was against interference in American affairs by European countries. The US was now completely isolationist.
When World War I and then World War II broke out, the US did not want to get involved. However, events overtook her. The Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, Korea, Vietnam and Cuba — all these events wrested the US away from her policy of isolation. The realisation was that US interests can best be served by involvement in the affairs of those countries.
What can South Africa learn from this example?
In the interests of the development of a foreign policy, South Africa should know and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of her neighbours. What wealth do they produce that can benefit South Africa? What development policies do they have that can benefit South Africa? In which way can South Africa influence developments in those countries to her benefit? Such intelligence should be gathered, analysed and then adapted to suit the needs of South African foreign
Foreign policy should aim at, among other things, massive investment in South Africa to make the good life for all its citizens possible. South Africa should then conclude diplomatic relations with those countries that would enable her to achieve these goals.
South Africa should also develop a foreign policy that will influence other countries to her own benefit. In Africa, South Africa is emerging as a model of democracy. Foreign policy should be directed at enhancing the application of democratic ideals. The recent involvement of South Africa in Angola, Mozambique and now in turmoil brewing in Nigeria, albeit without a clearly formulated foreign policy, is a case in point. A pragmatic approach, based on the realities of the African continent, should enable South Africa to develop a foreign policy.
What about the rest of the world? The same approach should be followed. It should be realised that in the US and continental Europe, South Africa will meet past masters at foreign policy machinations. It should guard against being drawn into struggles from which it will not benefit, and that may only sap our resources.
The intention of South African foreign policy should be to enable her to be a leader in Africa, share the centre stage of international political leadership with the US and some European countries and build a strong economy. With such a foreign policy, South Africa would then be able to compete, participate and contribute to stability in the world order.
Dr Kekana is Senior Lecturer in History, Vista