“Building a Better World:The Diplomacy of Ubuntu”

The Draft White Paper on

South Africa’s Foreign Policy

Presented by the Department of

International Relations and Cooperation

Background• Green Paper on Foreign Policy initiated as far back as 1996• In 2010, the Minister of International Relations and

Cooperation initiated an assessment of South Africa’s foreign policy against a backdrop of a rapidly changing international relations environment and “the weight of rising expectations”

• DIRCO therefore engaged a broad base of stakeholders.• Drafts were workshopped with the ICTS cluster, departments,

provinces, former diplomats, academia, think tanks, business, organised labour, NGOs and civil society.

• Approved by Cabinet for submission to Parliament

2

Strategic Purpose• The Draft White Paper strives to outline the

broad principles and elements of South Africa’s foreign policy, as well as a framework for implementation thereof, including clarification on the role & mandate of DIRCO.

• The Draft White Paper presents a framework for achieving Outcome 11, namely to create a better South Africa and contribute to a better and safer Africa and World.

3

Structure of the Draft White PaperForewordPreamble

1. Introduction2. The Mandate of DIRCO3. South Africa’s Values and Interests4. Drivers and Trends in the Global System5. Global Positioning of South Africa6. Taking Diplomacy Forward

4

Key Concepts• The Draft White Paper grounds foreign policy in South Africa’s

domestic priorities.• The Draft White Paper acknowledges the inter-

connectedness/relationship between interests and values in determining the National Interest.

• The concept of the “diplomacy of ubuntu” is used to explain South Africa’s foreign policy approach of collaboration, cooperation and partnership rather than conflict and competition.

5

Pillars of South Africa’s Foreign Policy• Immediate neighbourhood and the African Continent; • Working with the South to address shared challenges of

underdevelopment;• Promoting global equity and social justice;• Working with the North to develop true and effective

partnerships for a better world; • Transforming and strengthening the multilateral system to

better reflect global diversity & its centrality in global governance.

6

Key Foreign Policy Principles– States are interdependent– Cooperation over competition and collaboration over

confrontation– Draws on the spirit of internationalism, pan-Africanism, and

South-South solidarity, rejects colonialism and other forms of oppression

– Pursues the quest for the unity and economic, political and social renewal of Africa

7

Key Foreign Policy Principles (cont)– Committed to development partnerships with countries of the

North, as well as through trilateral and South-South cooperation

– Promotes poverty alleviation around the world; and opposition to structural inequality and abuse of power in the global system

– Pursues democracy within the international system of governance

8

Drivers and Trends in the Global System

Rapidly changing economic & political order:– Demographics– Realignment of economic power– Innovation– New media and social networks– Environmental change– Heightened demand for scarce resources– Changing nature of conflict and insecurity

9

Global Positioning of South Africa

• South Africa’s vision:– to be a successful, influential and leading member of

the international community– supported by a globally competitive economy on a

sustained growth path– made significant inroads in addressing

unemployment, inequality and poverty– contributing to the development of our region and

continent.

10

Africa

• Our struggle for a better life in South Africa is intertwined with our pursuit of a better Africa in a better world.

• Destiny is inextricably linked to that of the Southern African region.

• Regional and continental integration is the foundation for Africa’s socio-economic development and political unity, and essential for our own prosperity and security.

• Africa is at the centre of South Africa’s foreign policy. • Support regional and continental processes.

11

Africa’s Potential

Structural changes in the global economy have opened up opportunities that position Africa as significant to the global economy.

Africa has benefited greatly from the demand for its natural resources as a result of the rise of emerging powers.

Accelerated growth has been demonstrated in the majority of countries on the continent.

Several factors lie behind these changes, namely: improved governance and business environment, increased demand for goods and services.

12

The African Agenda

Given the global trend towards regional economic integration, the acceleration of Africa’s regional integration is imperative for economic competiveness and greater economies of scale.

Peace, stability, and security are essential preconditions for development.

South Africa will intensify its engagements in the AU and its structures in order for the AU to fulfil its role in building African unity and the social and economic development of the continent.

13

Development Partnerships

• South Africa will continue to engage internationally on aid effectiveness, increased global development assistance, and strengthening development partnerships.

• The South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA) will be an important instrument to promote more effective development cooperation.

• It will therefore pursue bilateral cooperation with African countries as well as trilateral cooperation with international partners in support of African development.

14

Multilateralism

• Global challenges: human security, environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, development (and the Post-2015 Development Agenda), political and economic crises, human rights, disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

• Multilateral cooperation needed to find equitable multilateral solutions to global problems.

• The United Nations (UN) system, through its universal membership and broad mandate, occupies the central and indispensable role within the global system of governance.

• However, the established global multilateral architecture has its roots in the post-Second World War context

15

Reform of the UN and Bretton Woods Institutions

• The developing world, especially Africa, has a limited voice and participation in the decision- and policy-making processes of the global trade, economic and financial institutions.

• South Africa recognises the importance of multilateralism and a rules-based system governed by international law.

• Comprehensive reform of the architecture of global governance, including the UN system and the Bretton Woods Institutions, to make them more effective, legitimate, and responsive to the needs of the developing world.

• Security Council Membership– Served twice as non-permanent member– Continues to pursue reform to establish greater African

representation

16

Other forums

• Groupings outside the formal multilateral structures in order to address specific issues affecting the international community.

• Groups such as the G20, Major Economies Forum, BASIC, IBSA and BRICS have grown in prominence and are focused on global issues related to political, security, environment and economic matters.

• South Africa supports the use of such groupings as an important mechanism for consensus building, whilst recognising the centrality of the UN and ensuring that its processes are not undermined.

17

South-South Cooperation

• 1955 Africa-Asia Conference in Bandung: outcomes were the establishment of NAM and G77

• Shared objective about the need to change the world to reflect the needs and interests of developing countries

• Later: NAASP, G8 Outreach, IBSA, BRICS, BASIC, etc

• Need to elevate these partnerships to a different level, building on the goodwill and solidarity, and generate mutually beneficial economic relations.

• Shared historical ties, similar challenges, alternative development paths.

18

Challenges

• Increased competition among states to position themselves in order to maximise their international profiles and visibility.

• Cohesion of the South as key developing countries graduate into developed countries.

• Influence and capacity gap between emerging powers and the rest of the developing world, especially LDCs.

• Impact on the solidarity of the South

• Divergences in the developing world agenda

• Shift in global economic centre of gravity from North-West to South and East

19

Economic Diplomacy

• Success of economic diplomacy linked to achievement of domestic priorities.

• Economy must be able to compete in the global market. • Aim is to pursue national economic policy objectives and

leverage opportunities that arise from global markets and increasing flows of global trade and investment.

• Focus of our international engagements must therefore include the creation of sustainable jobs and scaled up investments in employment-intensive sectors in South Africa.

20

Economic Diplomacy• South Africa’s economic diplomacy will therefore:

– Provide guidance to government and the business sector on economic developments and markets,

– Pursuing market access for South African products, – Attracting investments and tourism, – Removing barriers to trade, – Supporting development of larger markets in Africa, – Enhance competitiveness of South African goods and

services in the major global markets, and– Pursue a fair and equitable rules-based international trade

regime.

21

Asia

Asia is of increasing importance to South Africa and Africa. Power shifts in the global political and economic system

have increased the relevance of the Asian region, with major emerging powers such as China and India increasing their global influence.

The growing economic importance of Asia is also reflected in South Africa’s changing trade patterns with Asia.

Asia has become South Africa’s largest trading region and an increasingly important source of investment.

22

Middle East

• In the Middle East, South Africa will remain consistent in its support for the Middle East Peace Process and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

• South Africa’s foreign policy will have to take cognisance of the competing interests of the major powers in this region, as it pursues its unique role based on its successful political transition.

• The Levant region also has the potential to offer future export opportunities.

• Access Sovereign Wealth Funds in the Gulf to finance infrastructure development

23

Europe

• Europe will remain of critical strategic interest to South Africa and the EU currently represents a successful model of regional integration.

• EU enlargement has created the largest economic bloc in the world and remains South Africa’s largest trading bloc, representing more than a third of South Africa’s total trade.

• It remains an important source of foreign direct investment and official development assistance into South Africa, as well as a primary market for tourism.

• Europe retains very large voice and influence in multilateral institutions, and active supporter of African initiatives

24

Americas and the Caribbean

Bilateral relations would therefore be used to enhance economic, scientific, technical, and business opportunities through bilateral mechanisms.

The USA and Canada will remain dominant global and regional political and economic players, with significant potential for South African and African trade, tourism, and investment.

America still a dominant force in global affairs with global projection of power, even if increasingly limited.

25

Taking Diplomacy Forward

• Cross-sectoral approach and coordinated response required across all spheres of government, public enterprises, the private sector, labour, civil society, and other non-state actors. – Strengthen the Consultative Forum on International Relations– Establish South African Council on International Relations

• Public diplomacy essential to project South Africa’s image, values and culture both domestically and abroad.

• South Africa’s diplomacy of Ubuntu, focusing on our common humanity, provides an inclusive and constructive world view to shape a evolving global order.

26

THANK YOU

27