Africa’s Lost Leader: South Africa’s continental role since apartheid

When Nelson Mandela was sworn in as president on 10 May 1994, South Africa enjoyed an unprecedented global standing. Much of the international community, particularly Western states, saw the new South Africa as well equipped to play a dynamic and dominant role on the continent; promoting conflict resolution, economic development, and acting as a standard-bearer for democracy and human rights.

Yet, throughout the presidencies of Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, South Africa has failed to deliver on this early promise. Its continental primacy has been circumscribed by its own reluctance to lead, combined with widespread African hostility to its economic expansion, antipathy towards its democratic ideals and scepticism about its suitability as Africa’s global representative. With an onerous domestic agenda, as it continues to tackle the profound socio-economic legacies of apartheid, and with its military power also on the wane, South Africa must now adapt to an emerging multipolarity on the continent. This transition – which may produce a new concert of African powers working in constructive collaboration or lead to fragmentation, discord and gridlock – is likely to determine Africa’s prospects for decades to come.

This Adelphi book squarely challenges the received wisdom that South Africa is a dominant power in Africa. It explores the country’s complex and difficult relationship with the rest of the continent in the post-apartheid era and examines the ways in which the country has struggled to translate its economic, military and diplomatic weight into tangible foreign policy successes and enduring influence on the ground. The conclusions of this book will be valuable to academics, policymakers, journalists, and business leaders seeking to understand the evolution and trajectory of South African policy in Africa.

‘James Hamill’s penetrating study is a welcome, indeed highly original analysis of South Africa’s foreign policy. It is very well researched, closely argued and written with verve and clarity. The tone throughout is detached yet always relevant. This timely account adds significantly to our understanding of an important topic in international studies and will be of considerable intellectual benefit to both scholars and practitioners.’

J. E. Spence, OBE, FKC, King’s College London

‘The ANC government’s domestic policies have been characterised as ‘muddling through’. This well researched and accessibly written book by James Hamill shows the government’s foreign policies have been similarly ‘muddled through’ with disastrous consequences on South Africa’s influence, and prestige, in Africa. This book is a must read especially for South African business people whose companies are invested in other African countries.’

Moeletsi Mbeki, Deputy Chairperson, South African Institute of International Affairs

‘Hamill’s paper provides a succinct, balanced and well-informed analysis of post-apartheid South Africa’s foreign policy.’

Merle Lipton, King’s College London