Conclusions

Abstract

There can be no doubt that multilateralism has become a central plank of the ‘new’ South Africa’s diplomacy. It is also apparent that the African National Congress (ANC) government has little option but to cultivate a robust multilateral diplomatic strategy. As a developing middle power state, South Africa lacks the opportunities and capabilities to achieve its foreign policy goals unilaterally. Like many states South Africa has a limited ability to influence — let alone set the agenda of — most international institutions. This includes Pretoria’s struggle to facilitate multilateral cooperation within its own region/sub-region because many of its neighbours either resent or are very wary of its influence within Africa in general and Southern Africa in particular. Unilateral options are rare for Pretoria — such opportunities remain the privilege of more powerful actors such as the United States, the European Union and China. And in any case, multilateral institutions matter since they now regulate much of the security, economic, and judicial dimensions of the international system, with a remit of governance that is continually expanding into all areas of economic, social and political life at the international, regional, sub-regional and domestic levels.