1. Regionalisation in Southern Africa: The SADC Principles and Guidelines and 2005 Zimbabwe Elections

2. Introduction Regional integration is not only the domain of states or governments. Regional integration is not only the domain of states or governments. Non-state actors (i.e. political parties, interest groups and NGOs) also play their part. Non-state actors (i.e. political parties, interest groups and NGOs) also play their part. This paper departs from the state-centric analysis of regional integration. This paper departs from the state-centric analysis of regional integration. Focus on the transnational lobby campaign of the MDC, and interest groups and NGOs to influence the Zim government to abide by the SADC Principles and Guidelines. Focus on the transnational lobby campaign of the MDC, and interest groups and NGOs to influence the Zim government to abide by the SADC Principles and Guidelines.

3. Main Problem: To what extent have these non-state actors created a new normative cross-border region within SADC? Main Problem: To what extent have these non-state actors created a new normative cross-border region within SADC? In addition: What were their strategies and tactics and the significance of their actions on regionalisation in SADC? In addition: What were their strategies and tactics and the significance of their actions on regionalisation in SADC?

4. Regionalisation and Norms Regionalisation represents the intensification of social integration, the unassisted processes of social and economic relations and the expansion of interdependent networks within regions. Regionalisation represents the intensification of social integration, the unassisted processes of social and economic relations and the expansion of interdependent networks within regions. Therefore two facets to regionalisation: Therefore two facets to regionalisation:  Economic  Political: Increase in the flow of people, improvement of communication routes and social networks and the creation of a transnational regional civil society.

5. Norms are shared (social) understandings of standards of behaviour, or guidelines for human conduct and providing an action guide for behaviour in certain contexts. Norms are shared (social) understandings of standards of behaviour, or guidelines for human conduct and providing an action guide for behaviour in certain contexts. Norms and behaviour of individuals and actors are closely linked. Norms and behaviour of individuals and actors are closely linked. Link between norms and regionalisation: regionalisation has a normative character, because of the transnational spread of ideas, political attitudes, ideologies and viewpoints (behavioural character). Link between norms and regionalisation: regionalisation has a normative character, because of the transnational spread of ideas, political attitudes, ideologies and viewpoints (behavioural character). Individuals and collectivity actors produce norms to direct their behaviour. Individuals and collectivity actors produce norms to direct their behaviour.

6. Regions are resource pools of norms because of their protocols that prescribe behaviour in certain contexts. Regions are resource pools of norms because of their protocols that prescribe behaviour in certain contexts. Non-state actors will use this resource pool to circumvent governments to gain access to this pool. Non-state actors will use this resource pool to circumvent governments to gain access to this pool. They will also use the norms of an international institution to circumvent a government and to influence that government. They will also use the norms of an international institution to circumvent a government and to influence that government. Circumvention is used to an increasing extent because of globalisation and low responses from governments to the demands of non-state actors. Circumvention is used to an increasing extent because of globalisation and low responses from governments to the demands of non-state actors.

7. Through circumvention regionalisation develops to its fullest potential, because the government or state is not involved and therefore does not assist in the process. Through circumvention regionalisation develops to its fullest potential, because the government or state is not involved and therefore does not assist in the process. Non-state actors act as linkage actors when accessing this resource pool. Non-state actors act as linkage actors when accessing this resource pool. A number of approaches (strategies) are available when they operate as linkage actors: A number of approaches (strategies) are available when they operate as linkage actors:  Power approach.  Technocratic approach.  Coalition-building approach.  Grass-roots mobilisation.

8. Regionalisation therefore contains actor, norm creation and political action elements (circumvention, influence and linkage approaches) that are mutually interdependent and also fundamental creative aspects of the process. Regionalisation therefore contains actor, norm creation and political action elements (circumvention, influence and linkage approaches) that are mutually interdependent and also fundamental creative aspects of the process. Actors, their actions and norms beget regionalisation and vice-versa. Actors, their actions and norms beget regionalisation and vice-versa. Mauritian Protocol is one such creative element. Mauritian Protocol is one such creative element.

9. The Mauritian Protocol Protocol is a governance framework attempting to legitimise the conduct of elections in SADC. Protocol is a governance framework attempting to legitimise the conduct of elections in SADC. Contains 10 principles to which the members ‘shall’ adhere e.g. full participation of the citizens in the political process of elections. Contains 10 principles to which the members ‘shall’ adhere e.g. full participation of the citizens in the political process of elections. The Protocol is a collectivity of norms that should guide the behaviour of governments regarding elections. The Protocol is a collectivity of norms that should guide the behaviour of governments regarding elections.

10. Regionalisation of the 2005 Zimbabwe Parliamentary Elections The Political Situation in Zimbabwe: Silent Diplomacy and other Responses. The Political Situation in Zimbabwe: Silent Diplomacy and other Responses. The following non-state actors tried to influence the Zimbabwe government through various means to abide by the Protocol. The following non-state actors tried to influence the Zimbabwe government through various means to abide by the Protocol.  The MDC  Media Monitoring Project of Zimbabwe (MMPZ)  Zimbabwe’s layers for Human Rights (ZLHR)  Pius Ncube

11.  COSATU  Amnesty International  Human Rights Watch  International Crisis Group  Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR)  SA Council of Churches  Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA)  Centre for Policy Studies  Reporters Without Borders

12. Analysis Because of international interest groups, Zimbabwe’s internal political problems are no longer of domestic concern but that of the wider international community. Because of international interest groups, Zimbabwe’s internal political problems are no longer of domestic concern but that of the wider international community. In terms of the Protocol, everything Zimbabwe does is reacted upon by political parties and interest groups. In terms of the Protocol, everything Zimbabwe does is reacted upon by political parties and interest groups. Through their lobbying campaign the non- state entities have created a normative transnational region based on the Mauritian Protocol. Through their lobbying campaign the non- state entities have created a normative transnational region based on the Mauritian Protocol.

13. This region is the antithesis of the state created region. This region is the antithesis of the state created region. It contains communication routes. It contains communication routes. It is transnational because it does not abide by state boundaries. It is transnational because it does not abide by state boundaries. It is liberal democratic contact between actors is not restricted and is driven ‘by the people, for the people’. It is liberal democratic contact between actors is not restricted and is driven ‘by the people, for the people’. MDC used the power approach (negotiated with government leaders). MDC used the power approach (negotiated with government leaders). MDC and other interest groups used the technocratic approach (Mauritian Protocol was linked to Zimbabwe’s domestic politics to caution others against negative policy trends). MDC and other interest groups used the technocratic approach (Mauritian Protocol was linked to Zimbabwe’s domestic politics to caution others against negative policy trends).

14. The coalition-building approach was also used (MDC met with civil society actors in other countries and a transnational coalition was established). The coalition-building approach was also used (MDC met with civil society actors in other countries and a transnational coalition was established). Grass-roots mobilisation was also employed (the diaspora was mobilised). Grass-roots mobilisation was also employed (the diaspora was mobilised). A fifth approach – the diplomatic approach – was also used (fact-finding missions to Zimbabwe. Actors, DA and COSATU, communicated their experience to the wider public and gave an indication of the political situation on the ground). A fifth approach – the diplomatic approach – was also used (fact-finding missions to Zimbabwe. Actors, DA and COSATU, communicated their experience to the wider public and gave an indication of the political situation on the ground). Technocratic and diplomatic approaches facilitated regionalisation. Technocratic and diplomatic approaches facilitated regionalisation.

15.  It is through these approaches that the Zimbabwe government was effectively circumvented. These approaches will be used increasingly in future by non-state actors to lobby against undesirable policy trends. These approaches will be used increasingly in future by non-state actors to lobby against undesirable policy trends. Race is still plays an important role in Southern African politics, but issue-based politics is practiced to an increasing extent. Race is still plays an important role in Southern African politics, but issue-based politics is practiced to an increasing extent. SADC region will be bifurcated between pro-democracy actors and those dictating the political discourse through traditional liberation norms. SADC region will be bifurcated between pro-democracy actors and those dictating the political discourse through traditional liberation norms.

16. The former might replace the latter in the short to medium future. The former might replace the latter in the short to medium future.

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