How firm the handshake? South Africa's use of quiet diplomacy in Zimbabwe from 1999 to 2006

Graham, Victoria

doi:10.1080/10246029.2006.9627625

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In the process of combating challenges, SADC was faced with other impediments which robed its effectiveness towards the goals.Other scholarly works assert that weaknesses could be of the then current chair who dictates the solution of the matter according to self-interests or political interests [32] and [33]. In the case of Zimbabwe, [34], [35] and [36] noted with concern the Mbeki"s "quiet diplomacy" over its crises which was prolonged until he left the office with no solution. The bloc also forfeited its credibility due to ineffective procedures in elections monitoring.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), A Bright Light in Southern Africa

2022

JSSH

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The study critically assessed the Southern African Development Community (SADC), currently constituting 15 member countries, as an actor of peace and security in the region since its inception in 1992. Relevant literature was critically analysed and existing models of conflict transformation for buttressing all forms of instability were appraised. The study adopted secondary data collection method as an approach. The findings showed that SADC,faced with more internal challenges than external challenges, led to the regional integration. Leading factors in the lack of peace and security were; armed conflict, widening-socioeconomic disparities, competing over scarce resources, legacy of violence, power struggle, exploitation of ethnic groups by the elite and poor governance among others. Consequently, instability caused missing of lives, refugees and displaced persons, anti-personal landmines, economic losses, high social costs, conflict induced changes in women's gender roles and post-conflict (humanitarian, political, economic and social) reconstruction. SADC envisioned peace and security through adopted Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO).Though achievements were experienced they were tainted with unattended weaknesses and challenges.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), A Bright Light in Southern Africa

2022

JSSH

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“…Going after Robert Mugabe's government, and threatening it with punitive measures, would have been met with a sense of suspicion and outrage on the part of not only Mugabe, but also other regional states. In addition, solidarism and the politics of camaraderie in Southern Africa, and elsewhere in Africa, make for an overriding political culture (Graham 2006). Mbeki could not afford to be seen to be acting outside of this solidarity.…”

Section: Opting For Quiet Diplomacymentioning

confidence: 99%

African Solutions for African Problems: Quiet Diplomacy and South Africa’s Diplomatic Strategy Towards Zimbabwe

Landsberg

2016

JCH

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Zimbabwe is not just a foreign policy issue for South Africa; it has become a domestic policy concern. Political, socio-economic and cultural issues have coalesced in a manner that have forced the Zimbabwe question onto the domestic agenda, and South Africa has opted to respond to the Zimbabwe challenge by way of the foreign policy strategy of "quiet diplomacy" as a form of "African solutions for African problems". This policy was associated with South Africa's former president, Thabo Mbeki, but contrary to popular perceptions, the Nelson Mandela and Jacob Zuma governments also supported this strategy, even though they claimed that they distanced themselves from it. Six years after Mbeki's departure as head of state, and into the Jacob Zuma-led presidency, the claim that there was a fundamental break with the policy of quiet diplomacy by Zuma, and that his administration pursued a fundamentally different strategy to that of his predecessor, was far-fetched. This article considers the concept of quiet diplomacy, initially seen as a form of African containment, representing methods used to first try and stop conflicts from spiralling out of control; secondly by reversing the effects of conflicts; and thirdly by rolling back conflicts by means of peaceful settlements of disputes or peace settlements; after which a country could be stabilised politically, and socioeconomically. The analysis then traces Jacob Zuma's approach towards Zimbabwe and how his new administration came to endorse and support the 2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA), which they inherited from the Mbeki government, despite the rhetoric calling for a different approach.

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The limits of democratization through a regional hegemon: South African linkage and leverage and the skewed playing field in Lesotho party competition

Eerd¹

2016

Democratization and Competitive Authoritarianism in Africa

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How firm the handshake? South Africa's use of quiet diplomacy in Zimbabwe from 1999 to 2006

Cited by 11 publications

References 2 publications

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), A Bright Light in Southern Africa

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), A Bright Light in Southern Africa

African Solutions for African Problems: Quiet Diplomacy and South Africa’s Diplomatic Strategy Towards Zimbabwe

The limits of democratization through a regional hegemon: South African linkage and leverage and the skewed playing field in Lesotho party competition

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