Foreign Policy in Transition: The ANC's Search for a Foreign Policy Direction during South Africa's Transition, 1990–1994

Abstract

At the beginning of the transition from apartheid to democracy, the African National Congress (ANC) was unprepared for foreign policy discussion, a lack of readiness magnified by the collapse of international Communism and the Cold War ideology. President De Klerk and the National Party controlled foreign policy in the early years of the transition and began the process of reintegration with the international community, The ANC initially struggled to adapt to the new international situation, whereas De Klerk was successful in wooing the international community. In the later stages of transition, the ANC developed a greater sense of direction and substance in foreign relations, although there were differences of opinion among and between the leadership and the rank and file. Already in 1994 there was evidence of tension between idealism and pragmatism. Post-apartheid foreign policy under Mandela was riddled with inconsistencies, which stemmed from the events of South Africa's transition

To What Cost to its Continental Hegemonic Standpoint: Making Sense of South Africa’s Xenophobia Conundrum Post Democratization

“…Despite a plethora of hardships during exile, the ANC rose to continental prominence in the late 1980s. Its core support structure in its rise was sourced from the Soviet Union, the Socialist Bloc, and independent Southern African States (Graham, 2012). Notably, the ANC possessed immense support, a high level of organization, and mobilization through trade unions, civic groups, and political fronts while enjoying significant international support, making the country ungovernable.…”

“…While the ANC and the NP were the main political parties in the transition dialogue, other third parties such as the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and societal organizations such as the Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK), also known as the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) also had an important role to play in the transition negotiations. According to Graham (2012), the ANC entered the transition period, not knowing anything about foreign policy. It had by 1990 only created three documents relating to foreign policy.…”

“…5 The negotiations went through two stages of CODESA and later the Multiparty Negotiating Process (MPNP). The last and final stage was the formation of the Transitional Executive Council (TEC) in November 1993 that acted as a de facto government and through party consensus governed South Africa until the 1994 elections (Graham, 2012). Welsh (1994) submits that in de Klerk's mind, he had hoped that the NP's government tenure would enable it to determine the pace and scope of the transition, ensuring the minority whites remain protected in a new political system, while many in the ANC wanted to see a change in power.…”