The Diplomacy of Reintegration: South Africa Back into the Fold

Abstract

South Africa has recently undergone historic and radical change both in its domestic political and social structures and in its role and position in the world. It is to be expected, therefore, that these will be reflected in the institutional dimension of foreign policy and external relations and in the country’s diplomatic practice. The extent to which this is the case and the nature of the change are therefore interesting foci for study. In this contribution the main focus is on diplomacy instead of other means of conducting international relations. It outlines the main characteristics of the ‘old’ South African diplomacy and the contribution made by South Africa’s ‘diplomacy of isolation’¹ to modern diplomatic practice. The chapter then reviews the ‘new’ South African diplomacy in terms of its two main aspects: the diplomacy of rejoining the world and the integration of South African foreign policy institutions. Finally, it places the ‘new’ South African diplomacy in the context of modern diplomatic practice.