DFA Budget Vote: thoughts

1. DFA Budget Vote: thoughts Dr Siphamandla Zondi Institute for Global Dialogue May 2008

2. Contextual Remarks • From diplomatic normalization to active international presence • 1994-2004: Bilateral • restructuring & transformation • establishment of 111 diplomatic missions abroad & receiving 137 foreign missions • in Africa 35 missions • Consolidated special bilaterals – +/-34 Binational Commissions by 2005 • Strategic bilaterals with the EU, Brazil, India, China, Nigeria etc with economic value

3. Contextual Remarks • Multilateral: • SADC integration & SACU consolidation • AU transition and institutionalization • Revitalization of the NAM, Bandung Agenda, G77 +77, NAASP, & IBSA = South-South Co-operation • North-South Relations: SA-EU & Africa-EU, G8 Outreach 5 (with China, India, Brazil & Mexico), flirting with OECD • Global governance: active role in the UN, especially General Assembly; UN reform • Branding and public diplomacy – media relations

4. SETTING THE SCENE Impact of ‘emerging Powers’ Western domination of international organizations Greater need for multilateralism & shared values • Questions about the value of the UN for security • Construction of a new financial architecture • Constructing a global agenda for sustainable development

5. Note … • Reform ~ crafting a progressive discourse to globalization; • Better SA, better Africa, better world • Norm entrepreneurship in global arena • Bridge-building and seeking consensus • Balance between foreign policy interests and imperatives of domestic transformation

6. SA in the United Nations • General Assembly: acting as a responsible global citizen : • Promoting nuclear non-proliferation through coalitions (NAC) and consensus-building; defending the role of IAEA • Promoting common South positions and action plans on issues like the middle east conflict, WSSD; MDGs, Monterrey • Enabling UN to fulfil its erstwhile developmental programmes • Push for representation (South) in the Secretariat; & access to procurement system; refurbishment of buildings • Strengthening the human rights architecture ->Human Rights Council --- defended the Council subsequently • Coalitions in defence of the sanctity of the UN and its charter (rule of law group) – including its financial position • Push on post-conflict reconstruction – Peace Building Commission • Structured interface between UN and regional organizations

7. SA in the Security Council UNSC - a great opportunity to contribute maintenance of global peace But requires capacity to handle the machinery & complex agenda, & friends • Votes on Myanmar, Iran, Rape, Zimbabwe, & Climate Change caused controversy • The positions were principled and correct: protecting integrity of the UN & multilateralism vs unilateralism; promoting rule of law; Africa’s interests, • But communication with the public and articulation of the positions in the world media was poor • Raised the issue of our inability to follow the battles from the chambers to newsrooms and public platforms?

8. …. • Zimbabwe’s ever-deepening crisis and this idea that SA uses ‘quite diplomacy’ • If you don’t articulate your policy clearly, other actors define it for you • If they do and you have no coherent response, then the problem is more serious • Expansion of SA corporations has generated a lot of uneasiness in Africa & fears of sub-imperialism • While about regulation and guidance, this is also about SA countering the negative image • If we don’t, activities of companies will define who we are and what our interests are in Africa

9. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY -> PUBLIC DISASTER? • UN Security Council PR debacle is an epitome of wider problem • Policies and positions can be principled, but if not well and pro-actively articulated they are weak • The SA govt has a major challenge articulating its own positions both to citizens and outside audiences • In global debates the correctness of positions is linked to public perceptions about them

10. What’s the problem? • What anyway do we mean by public diplomacy at DFA? ….NB. Info age! • It tends to be media liaison – press statements to inform and alert • The purpose is information rather than articulation of policy and positions • The target is media rather than citizens and opinion makers • It tends to be a small element of a huge organization- indicating the value DFA attaches to it currently • It tends to be written statements and monologues rather than dialogue/engagement

11. What’s the problem? • Website is brilliant, but for a few who have access? There is no space for comment on it (READ ONLY) • Does DFA have a proper public diplomacy strategy and plan? • If it did, it would be able to anticipate areas of difficulty and pro-actively engage, e.g. Zimbabwe,, EU’s EPAs etc • If it did, all envoys will be armed with appropriate information to engage audiences overseas

12. What’s the problem? • A strategy would make it mandatory for diplomats to undergo proper training in this area … are there PD experts at DFA? • PD has 2 fronts: 1. domestic (citizens & intermediaries), 2. foreign (envoys?) • In times of controversy, diplomats should n’t refer to Pretoria (they are envoys) • A strategy: events are opportunities to brand, communicate & sell SA. PD is not merely organizing press conferences • It would also specify informal avenues

13. RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY • PD: a significant portion of the DFA budget • But can we disaggregate the item? • Can we ask if there are plans and how broad are they? • How much of it is spent on building the communication infrastructure • Communication has become a major site of international relations including power struggles … INFO AGE! • Foreign policy thrives in the market place of ideas (media & public debates)

14. A major element of public diplomacy is interface with opinion-makers, interlocutors and purveyors of information & knowledge • Analysts, columnists, NGOs, prominent persons etc- they shape public opinion : e.g. Tutu on Myanmar • Build on PRAU-led interface with intermediaries.But Budget! Terms of reference! DFA Participation! • Security Council seat: one engagement with analysts; regular media briefings

15. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT • Engagement with the public is a principle in Batho Pele • As a result, most departments have izimbizo, but DFA only had 1 in 2005(during the UN Reform)… why & what’s the plan? • Don’t citizens deserve to hear from DFA and ask questions about our foreign affairs? • How else can we eradicate the perception that there is more focus on Africa & the world than on domestic issues? • What item in the budget provides for this?

16. COHERENT DIPLOMACY • A serious weakness in the entire IRPS cluster work is poor co-ordination between political & economic diplomacy • Both 10 & 15 year review refer to lack of coherence in the work of DFA & DTI in areas • Training of diplomats in economic diplomacy is one positive development • But co-ordination requires a structured programme from DFA as a lead department … & engagement with DTI

17. SUB-NATIONAL IR • Cities, municipalities & provinces are playing an increasingly active role in international relations the world over • The dramatic increase in sub-national IR by SA is underestimated • This leads to conflicting messages, unnecessary competition, dislocation of the national agenda • The DFA has responded with a study & workshops, but not much energy • What item in budget address this?

18. SA in Africa • Moral authority is a major asset, but as it wanes what will be the basis of our IR? • Our leadership of Africa is increasingly challenged, what are we doing to regain our position? • If we are to be bolder than we have been, would we sustain it? • NEPAD is falling apart, any strategy to counter this? • Should we continue to invest in SADC, if we have our eyes in SACU?

19. Empty offices abroad • A major contradiction of SA’s active IR is failure to staff position in the UN, AU, SADC etc • At our own peril: lost opportunities to advance our interests & lack of commitment tag • SADC states lament our reticence to field a candidate for chair of AU Commission • When we deployed senior officials at NEPAD & SADC in 2000-2004/5, our interests were well secured, but now?

20. DFA CAPACITY • The number of vacancies remains a concern • The sooner a full diplomatic training institution is operationalized the better • The status of the FSI and PRAU under the new Branch… what is the underlying logic and what are benchmarks? • A review of the BNCs, a number are dysfunctional or no longer have value

21. as a DEVELOPMENT PARTNER • Donors have interests too • SA contributes significantly to AU budget, but is cautious • Through ARIC fund, SA provides governance support in various countries, does not use this as a strategic leverage • What is the plan on ‘The Return for Investments’? Are we too naïve? • The Union Government debate is an opportunity to provide strategic leadership in keeping with our investments

22. CONCLUSION • Active international relations has benefitted us, but also posed new challenges • To build on successes & deal with weakness, we need much more energy than we currently show • We need to balance normal diplomatic activities with new dimensions of public & economic diplomacy • Embassies everywhere - good, but more presence means populate critical organizations & market place of ideas too

23. THANKSNgiyabongaKe a lebogaNdo livhuwa