South Africa's economic relations with Africa: hegemony and its discontents

Abstract

Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0022278X05001011How to cite this article: Chris Alden and Mills Soko (2005). South Africa's economic relations with Africa: hegemony and its discontents.

Exploring Diplomatic Crisis of Nigeria and South Africa between 1994 and 2013

“…In sport, South Africa emerged from isolation in 1994 to host the first ever FIFA-organized World Cup on African soil (see Ndlovu, 2010). In economics South Africa has demonstrated that it has the most sophisticated capitalist economy in Africa in terms of trade, debt and foreign investments in Africa and beyond (Mahao, 2006;Tjemolane, 2011;Alden and Soko, 2005;Nicole, 2004). In terms of political leadership, South Africa has emerged as a regional and continental power in peacekeeping and negotiation in conflict areas such as the DRC, Burundi, Angola, Lesotho, Sudan and Zimbabwe (see Spence, 2004;Habib & Selinyane, 2004;Wannenburg, 2004;Ngubentombi, 2004).…”

South Africa’s symbolic hegemony in Africa

“…Examining the political economy of South African involvement with the continent more closely, it could be understood as operating within three concentric circles of economic engagement, with the first being defined by the geographic parameters of the SACU, the second SADC and the third being the rest of the continent (Alden and Soko, 2005).…”

“…SAB's successful takeover bid of national breweries in Tanzania was contrasted with its highly publicised failure to do so in Kenya. At the same time, South African Airways managed to unite the divided Kenyan government and local business interests, which successfully fought a high-profile campaign to block the takeover of its national airline (Alden and Soko, 2005).…”

“…Furthermore, the friction and at times hostility between the South African state and its business community, riveted by lingering racial animosities and fears of government interference, argued against the collusion of state and industry (see also Shaw, in this volume). Few companies turn to the Department of Trade and Industry for export support or advice nor do they expect assistance, causing leading South African analysts to bemoan the absence of a 'South Africa Inc' (Alden and Soko, 2005).…”

Escaping the Resource Curse: The Sources of Institutional Quality in Botswana

“…Generally cited as a manifestation of South Africa's hegemony, the SACU created benefits that have been highly skewed towards the benefit of South Africa. According to Alden and Soko (2005) "SACU provides the most conspicuous example of how South Africa has acted as a 'malevolent' hegemonic power" in Southern Africa (Alden and Soko, 2005:370). This section argues that instead of helping Botswana's institutional development, the exercise of South Africa's regional hegemony through SACU actually choked Botswana's efforts to create its own independent and autonomous trade policies and regimes.…”