Suid-Afrika se internasionale norm-entrepreneurskap

Abstract

English: The ambitious foreign policy that democratic South Africa has pursued since 1994 contains a strong element of international norm-entrepreneurship. This largely selfimposed undertaking can involve a set of related tasks: upholding, formulating, promoting and enforcing internationally accepted norms of state conduct. South Africa has indeed taken up all four responsibilities. The country has established an exemplary record in respecting universal norms both domestically and in its foreign relations. South Africa features prominently as a norm formulator in multilateral forums, especially in Africa. The missionary zeal with which the new South Africa had originally promoted norms abroad has, however, been tempered by a pragmatism that tends to favour money over morality. The Republic has shown even less enthusiasm for norm enforcement. Contentious international issues like Zimbabwe and Myanmar revealed inconsistencies and prevarication in South Africa’s norm entrepreneurship. Instead of watering down its initiatives even further, South Africa ought to embark on a more robust form of norm entrepreneurship abroad.

Afrikaans: Die ambisieuse buitelandse beleid wat demokratiese Suid-Afrika sedert 1994 volg, bevat ’n sterk element van internasionale norm-entrepreneurskap. Hierdie grootliks self-opgelegde onderneming kan ’n reeks verwante take behels: die nakoming, formulering, bevordering en afdwinging van internasionaal aanvaarde norme van staatsgedrag. Suid-Afrika het inderdaad al vier verantwoordelikhede opgeneem. In die nakoming van universele norme sowel binnelands as in sy buitelandse betrekkinge het die land ’n voortreflike rekord daargestel. Die Republiek figureer prominent as ’n normformuleerder in multilaterale forums, veral in Afrika. Die sendingywer waarmee die nuwe Suid-Afrika aanvanklik norme in die buitewêreld bevorder het, word egter getemper deur ’n pragmatisme wat neig om voorkeur aan materiële gewin bo morele oorwegings te gee. Suid-Afrika toon selfs minder geesdrif vir normafdwinging. Omstrede kwessies soos Zimbabwe en Mianmar ontbloot inkonsekwentheid en dubbelsinnigheid in Suid-Afrika se norm-entrepreneurskap. Eerder as om sy inisiatiewe verder af te water, behoort Suid-Afrika hom tot ’n meer robuuste vorm van norm-entrepreneurskap te wend.