South Africa’s Hegemonic Position

Do you regard South Africa as a hegemon in its relations with the rest of SADC region? Relate your answer from a specific ideological perspective AND identify the applicable International Relations theory present in your answer.

Table of contents

1. Introduction……………………………………………………………………….….2

2. Defining a hegemon………………………………………………………………...2

3. The role of Southern African Development Community (SADC)………………4

4. South Africa as a hegemon in its relations with the rest of SADC region…….5

5. The IR theory in support of South Africa’s Hegemonic stance………………...6

5.1 Liberalism…………………………………………………………………....…..6

6. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………...…7

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………….8

1. Introduction

South Africa is one of the most geographically diverse countries of the African continent which is located on the southern tip of Africa (Landsberg & Van Wyk, ‎2012:95). It entered an evolution period that led to the full democratic freedom four years later after the end of apartheid era (Hentz, 2005:1). The succeeding outline of democracy in South Africa after several years of apartheid and the end of the cold war transformed the political thinking in Southern Africa as a whole Halisi (1999:114). According to Hentz (2005:1) the South Africa’s rise from the dark years of apartheid indicated more than a new purpose for its people; it denoted a new hope for the entire subcontinent of Southern Africa. One of the reason of which let into the transformation of SADCC into SADC is the fact that the latter (SADC) varies from its forerunner in that it goes further than just economic co-operation to an advanced level of economic integration and security co-operation in the region (Nathan, 20...

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