Legitimisation and de-legitimisation within a multilateral organisation: South Africa and the Commonwealth

Following Robert Cox, the essential function of multilateralism is seen as the institutionalisation and promotion of an ongoing hegemonic project. Yet, taken alone this understanding is unsatisfactory in explaining wholly the behaviour of international organisations and in particular the Commonwealth’s relationship with South Africa. By making use of Frederick Gareau’s notion of de-legitimisation as well as legitimisation, a fuller understanding of multilateralism and the Commonwealth as a particular organisation is crafted.