Theoretical perspectives on South African foreign policy making

ABSTRACT

During the last three years political scientists have emphasised the role of the security establishment in the South African foreign policy decision making process. Since the signing of the Nkomati Accord, however, the use of the ‘security establishment dominant model’ for the explanation of foreign policy behaviour has become inadequate. This article is a contribution towards the articulation of a skeletal model which will clarify the apparent contradictions in South Africa's foreign policy decision making process.