Understanding the impact of South Africa's domestic conflict-resolution experience on its foreign policy approach to third-party conflict intervention

Date Presented:

February 6

Abstract:

Since 1994, South Africa has been involved in resolving numerous conflicts throughout the continent, including Lesotho, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, the Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, and Libya. Through a mixed methodology of discourse and textual analysis, historical analysis, and field interviews, this thesis investigates how South Africa has capitalized on its own domestic experience to develop and legitimize its foreign-conflict intervention strategies. Employing the constructivist theoretical lens of national identity and role conception, I argue that South Africa rhetorically utilizes its own domestic history to justify its foreign-policy prioritization of diplomatic, peaceful intervention over the use of force, with an emphasis on inclusive dialogue, power-sharing, and reconciliation. I then conduct a historical analysis of Pretoria’s behavior to assess whether it matches its rhetoric, and argue that while South Africa often adheres to its policy of non-violent peace processes, it has increasingly resorted to military intervention. Finally, I examine the influence of the soft power or moral authority that South Africa gained from its domestic peace process—in contrast with economic and military hard power—on Pretoria’s conflict intervention strategy and legitimacy. I conclude by posing the possibility that a shift in soft and hard power dynamics can explain recent changes in South Africa’s foreign-intervention approach.