The security dilemma evident in South Africa's foreign policy towards Africa

Abstract

South Africa's (SA) ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), is looking to expand SA's influence and power in the region and on the African continent in order to advance domestic socio-economic development. In the process, SA's political identity is changing. Much of the article also focuses on the evolution or adaptation of the national political identity of SA. This discussion shows that there is a risk that the new political identity may not be accepted by the majority of South African citizens or by its allies in the region and on the continent. If the new political identity fails to take hold and domestic socio-economic problems are not addressed, the ANC could lose its future political support while anarchy and uncertainty, in the context of the 'security dilemma', may further perpetuate to the general public and partnering states. An exacerbating factor is the fact that SA's domestic policies are linked to its foreign policies. Failures to successfully introduce domestic policies may also hold negative consequences for its foreign policy objectives and may well lead to unintended rivalry and conflict in the region and the continent.