WHITE PAPER reviews Siphamandla Zondi Institute for Global Dialogue Institute for Global Dialogue Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute

OUTLOOK ON THE WORLD Contending views: –Western ideas: anarchy & order –They want a stable world Views on the outside: of world as coloniality/imperiality core-periphery/world without us etc –They want another world… What is SA’s view of the world today? What is SA’s view of the world we want?

IS SA’s IDEOLOGICAL POSITION… Reformist? –Tinker with the system to wedge a space for itself? –Participation, inclusion, & accommodation? –Pragmatic reformist …. Critical reformist Transformationist? –A desire for a new system – fundamental changes to the system … a world for all – deconstruction, restructuring, transcending –Pragmatic transformist … radical transformist A combination … in what ways?

WHAT POSTURE THEN? Radical and outspoken … building alliances with radical forces state / non-state? Radical, but soft spoken … building alliances with both radical and non-radicals Critical and outspoken … Critical and soft spoken … Critical pragmatic – radical sometimes, non- radical other times …

STRATEGIC CHOICES Diplomacy of inclusion and participation – subvert the system, contest the space Diplomacy of rebellion/protest/speaking out … Links with critical civil society out there?

OUTLOOK ON AFRICA Africa as a problem of post-colony –African leaders, governance, institutions, political culture, lack of (democracy, ethics etc) –Solutions are internal reforms to catch up with the “universal” (codename for the west) Africa as a complex product of the world –Problems manifest systemic faults in the world –Solutions are both internal & external (not democracy, but which democracy) – transformation

STRATEGIC CHOICES Lead from the front for a time … than to the back African identity sometimes (… double souls?) Have anchor states as co- underwriters, but sometimes not…?

WE ARE ECLECTIC Ideologically & paradigmically… we fit in no single box… Deliberately or by default? - old & new co-exist “Gramscian dilemma”? – the old is dying & the new is struggling to be born If deliberate, how do we express it consistently? -

SO, DIPLOMACY OF UBUNTU Great that we have decided to take a deliberate view… Ubuntu does not only mean kindness & cooperation, but also confrontation… ? Wole Soyinka: “The tiger does not announce its tigritude, but it pounces”

ISSUES? Supporting institutions (SADC, AU, etc)… Common positions, but “pragmatism”? Structural changes to political economy …so, SA’s position is? (p. 21) NEPAD & PAP… “continue to support” means what? Thinks SACU must evolve into anchor for SADC

Synergy between bilateral & multilaterals in Africa… SADPA - instrument for effective development cooperation SA Trade Policy & Strategy Framework outlines economic diplomacy…. Great…. What outlines African agenda? SA and multilateralism? SA and global governance? etc

CAVEATS NO DOMESTIC CONSENSUS ABOUT NATIONAL QUESTION & IDENTITY NO DOMESTIC CONSENSUS ABOUT OUR PLACE IN THE WORLD A COUNTRY OF MANY NATIONS MEANS CONTENDING OUTLOOKS