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Continuity of Change, Continuity & change? SA ’ s IRC Agenda. Siphamandla Zondi Institute for Global Dialogue in association with Unisa 2 July 2014. IGD. Is a foreign policy/IR policy think tank Established at Mandela ’ s initiative in 1995
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Continuity of Change, Continuity & change? SA’s IRC Agenda Siphamandla Zondi Institute for Global Dialogue in association with Unisa 2 July 2014
IGD • Is a foreign policy/IR policy think tank • Established at Mandela’s initiative in 1995 • To understand global dynamics and their bearing on Africa & SA • Progs- Foreign policy; Global South Studies; African Diplomacy and Global Diplomacy
SA Foreign Policy Structure Set • Southern Africa: integration/ institutions & economy • Africa: geostrategic – institutions, integration
Developing world – solidarity/alliances, fora (NAM & G77) ( IBSA & BRICS) • Relations with developed countries … bilaterals & multilateral • Global governance – multilateralism. institutions
Strategic Orientation • Reformist • Pan-Africanist • Eclectic • Multilateralist • How do you respond to a changing environment?
2009-2014 Left Overs? • SADPA …. ARF? • White Paper … revision? • SACOIR …
Code … fell away • Professionalise diplomacy … ratio – career to deployees? • Regulation of paradiplomacy/ sub-national IR … a forum … but?
To increase public engagements • Cape Town • Grahamstown • Polokwane • Pretoria • Mpangeni • Mbombela
Ubuntu Radio • Ubuntu Magazine • Business interface • Interface with “intellectuals”
From the SONA? • Continuity & change…. • Aligning with the NDP …. eish! • Southern Africa & Africa as trade & investment zones
Developing world = economic partnerships • Developed countries = economic partners • International convention on disability = domesticisation of international commitments?
Radebe added:- the blue economy • But in reality is the bigger issue: it’s a “blue region” … • The Indian Ocean region is strategic as a shipping lane, site of emerging powers, trade route, security zone.. • So is the south Atlantic with South America & Caribbean rising, an inverse of NATO (older order) • Global economic reform - means what? -
Implications from NDP • Economic – diplomacy … • “national interests” study; • clarity on types of regional agreements • Focusing capacity: • Audit of foreign representation
Effective SADPA • Inclusive policymaking & implementation • Research & analysis capacity … • Greater & deeper public engagement… • Beginning with NDP and IRC…
What have we learned? • Continuity with change in emphasis • Consistency of outlook, but the environment changing fast • Great plans, but implementation falling behind in areas (oversight) • Confidence& profile, but complacency?