Regional supremacy or coalition? evaluating South Africa’s regional integration efforts within the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

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dc.contributor.authorMlambo, Daniel Nkosinathi
dc.date.accessioned2018-08-07T08:54:59Z
dc.date.available2018-08-07T08:54:59Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.descriptionA thesis submitted to the Faculty Of Commerce, Administration and Law in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master Of Administration in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University Of Zululand, 2017en_US
dc.description.abstractHaving been disregarded as a pariah state pre-1994 due to the apartheid system that prevailed, South Africa became a legitimate state in 1994 after the first ever democratic elections. In the same year, it was inaugurated as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), where its membership came with a lot of positive and negative reactions in regard to the role it was to play in southern Africa. This was while other SADC states viewed South Africa (because of its robust economy) as a locomotive to spearhead regional integration in the SADC, and others had mixed emotions, wondering whether South Africa was to utilize its vast resources for the benefit of southern Africa, or to enhance its own self-interest.In light of the above, this dissertation probes the debate on South Africa’s role in the SADC post-1994. The role has been conceptualized within the difference of regional supremacy or coalition. In essence, the study seeks to unearth its perceived hegemonic role through drawing insights from its foreign policy towards southern Africa post-1994. Utilizing both primary and secondary data, the study examines the prevailing assertions of South Africa as a hegemonic state of southern Africa since its re-emergence from its apartheid doldrums in 1994. From an in-depth theoretical analysis of South Africa’s role in the region, the study concludes that South Africa has made significant contributions (development wise) in the SADC since 1994. Pre-1994 South Africa’s relations with other SADC members were largely characterized by its destabilizing tactics towards the region rather than enhancing regional development. Nonetheless, post-1994 South Africa has undoubtedly established better relationship with the SADC region. It has since used its regional integration standpoint to forge healthier partnership through bilateral, multilateral and various peacekeeping initiatives that sought to improve regional development and security. As a result of its level of development, military might, political stability and robust economy, it has ostensibly become an undisputed regional hegemon of southern Africa.Perhaps more importantly, it has used its regional hegemony for the benefit of southern Africa through vast investments, increased trade military and peacekeeping agreements. Based on these arguments, the study further outlines that South Africa should however allow other SADC states to have access to its large and diversified markets. With that said, South Africa is still poised to play a robust role in future SADC regional integration frameworks.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Research Foundation Of South Africaen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10530/1704
dc.publisherUniversity of Zululanden_US
dc.subjectforeign policy --SADC --regional integration --hegemon --South Africaen_US
dc.titleRegional supremacy or coalition? evaluating South Africa’s regional integration efforts within the Southern African Development Community (SADC)en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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