Inside South Africa’s Foreign Policy: Diplomacy in Africa from Smuts to Mbeki

South Africa is a major player in African diplomacy. Its economic, diplomatic and military resources far outstrip those of other nations on the continent, and it has, since the country's 1994 democratic transition, sought to take a lead role in the continent's relations with other power blocs, particularly during the 1999-2008 presidency of Thabo Mbeki. While Mbeki's push for greater African engagement in the global political sphere drew widespread praise, other positions-notably its seeming inaction toward Zimbabwe and perceived abandonment of its stated emphasis on human rights in foreignpolicy-were more controversial, both at home and abroad. John Siko has had insider access to South Africa's leading foreign policy players, and has been able to ask why Pretoria has taken its various stances and who has mattered in influencing those decisions, a topic little examined since 1994. In addition, he examines the foreign policy process over the past century, determining that despite ANC promises of greater democratic engagement on foreign policy, the process has changed quite little.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Understanding South African Foreign Policymaking 7 Chapter 2: A Brief History of South African Foreign Policy 15 Chapter 3: Public Opinion and Pressure Groups 34 Chapter 4: The Press 48 Chapter 5: Academia 61 Chapter 6: Business 87 Chapter 7: Parliament 102 Chapter 8: Ruling Parties 115 Chapter 9: Government Departments 126 Chapter 10: The Prime Minister and President 143 Chapter 11: Conclusion—Room, But Not Willingness, for Engagement 158 Bibliography 162 Appendix: List of Interviews 186 Endnotes

About the Author :
John Siko joined the US State Department in 2000. He has worked on Southern African political issues throughout his career as an analyst and diplomat, serving in Pretoria (2004-2006) and Cape Town (2008-2011). He is, in addition, an adjunct professor at Georgetown and George Washington Universities in Washington DC. John also holds BA and MA degrees from the George Washington University in Washington DC, and he is a term member of the US Council on Foreign Relations. He lives in DC.

Review :
' Through meticulous research John Siko has produced a masterful comparative analysis of the dark arts of foreign policy making in the old and new South Africa. For sensitive readers the similarities between the two eras might be disconcerting, whereas seasoned foreign policy analysts will find authoritative confirmation of their presumptions about the inner workings of the "black box" of democratic South Africa's foreign policy formulation.' Deon Geldenhuys, University of Johannesburg ' When it comes to understanding South Africa, John Siko has few equals. His book is a valuable addition to the canon of South African foreign-policy literature, particularly given his five years of experience as a diplomat in the country. It is a must read for anyone-whether South Africans or outsiders- trying to understand how the foreign policy making process really works. Incoming diplomats in particular should put this at the top of their reading lists.' Donald Gips, US Ambassador to South Africa, 2009-13 ' John Siko has written the finest and most comprehensive account of South African foreign policy to date. It is an irony that the foreign policy of an apartheid era was more active internationally, beyond Africa, than South African foreign policy is today. At the same time, Thabo Mbeki's painstaking "African diplomacy" within Africa is captured by Siko in a compelling fashion, especially in its Zimbabwean dimension. The various think tanks and interest groups, some public and others secret, are all represented here in a valuable and important book.' Stephen Chan OBE, SOAS, University of London ' Dr Siko has produced an innovative and perceptive study of the varying impact of key South African elites on the foreign-policy decision-making process. It is closely argued, based on a formidably wide range of sources including productive interviews with many of the key actors. The tone and substance of the book demonstrates a commendable scholarly detachment; it will certainly be a valuable text for those interested in a variety of fields including foreign-policy analysis, democratic theory and practice and transitional politics.' J.E. Spence OBE, King's College London