Engagement matters: South Africa, the United Nations and a rights-based foreign policy

Abstract

This article critically examines the role of South Africa with special reference to the values embodied in the human rights principles of the UN system and argues for a re-emphasis of a rights-based foreign policy guided by a non-alignment loyal only to the normative frameworks established by the UN for global governance. It is argued that South Africa's foreign policy should be measured mainly in terms of its willingness to engage with the global governance system as represented by the UN, and its support of the normative frameworks codified by the UN as relevant reference points for any country's policy. It is suggested that South Africa, despite its claims of being in unconditional support of such rights-based agenda, might be able to do better if less guided by strategic parameters.

Keywords:

• United Nations
• South Africa
• foreign policy
• human rights
• rule of law
• social capital

Notes

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9. As Thabo Mbeki and Mahmood Mamdani suggest in an op-ed, ‘Courts can't end civil wars’, The New York Times, 6 February 2014, but the ICC has certainly contributed to a stronger sense of ‘dos and don'ts’ and put the notion of impunity under threat.

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14. Report of the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, United Nations General Assembly, sixty-eighth session, item 69(b) of the provisional agenda, document A/68/382, 13 September 2013, http://justsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/UN-Special-Rapporteur-Extrajudicial-Christof-Heyns-Report-Drones.pdf

15. See more at http://www.safpi.org/news/article/2013/south-africa-s-phumzile-mlambo-ngcuka-appointed-chief-un-women-s-agency#sthash.NVJtN4Yc.dpuf

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23. Fritz N, The UNSC, the ICC and the (Non)role of South Africa. See also the Human Rights Watch ‘World Report 2011: Events of 2010’ (p. 6) where UN Human Rights Council members in Geneva are quoted as calling for ‘cooperation, not condemnation’. This clearly illustrates the latent to open conflict between a morally and ethically guided human rights advocacy and the Realpolitik justified as legitimate pragmatism by governments.

24. Policy Advisory Group Seminar Report, Africa, South Africa, and the United Nations’ Security Architecture. Cape Town: Centre for Conflict Resolution, June 2013, p. 23.

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31. Policy Advisory Group Seminar Report, Africa, South Africa, and the United Nations’ Security Architecture. Cape Town: Centre for Conflict Resolution, June 2013, p. 25.

32. Roth K & P Hicks, ‘Encouraging stronger engagement by emerging powers on human rights’, Open Democracy, 20 June 2013.

33. Roth K & P Hicks, ‘Encouraging stronger engagement by emerging powers on human rights’, Open Democracy, 20 June 2013.

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35. ‘Celebrating 19 years of South Africa's Foreign Policy’, Public Lecture by Deputy Minister of International relations and Cooperation, H. E. Mr Ebrahim I Ebrahim, South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), 4 July 2013, http://www.safpi.org/news/article/2013/dep-min-ebrahim-celebrating-19-years-south-africa-s-foreign-policy. All quotes following are from this source.

36. One only needs to observe the wheeling and dealing over climate change-related negotiations within the Conference of the Parties (COP), which clearly reflect alliances and interests beyond an established North–South divide and put also polluters like South Africa on the spot.

37. Quoted in Patel K, ‘Zuma at ANC Manifesto forum: the courts have spoken on eTolls, people must obey’, Daily Maverick, 22 October 2013 http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-10-22-zuma-at-anc-manifesto-forum-the-courts-have-spoken-on-etolls-people-must-obey/#.UmbMZiTrbdI (accessed 20 March 2014).

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42. Fritz N, South Africa's role in Global Promotion of Rule of Law: ‘Neither Here nor There’, South African Foreign Policy Initiative (SAFPI), SAFPI Policy Brief, no. 12, September 2012, p. 3.

43. le Pere G, M Pressend, M Ruiters & S Zondi, South Africa's Participation in the System of Global Governance. A Review prepared for the Presidency's Fifteen Year Review. Midrand: Institute for Global Dialogue, February 2008, p. 10.

44. From his address before the Academic Association of the University of Lund delivered on 4 May 1959, as quoted in Cordier A W & W Foote (eds), Public Papers of the Secretaries-General of the United Nations. Volume IV: Dag Hammarskjöld 1958–1960, (selected and edited with commentary). New York: Columbia University Press, 1974, p. 384.

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46. Cordier A W & W Foote (eds), Public Papers of the Secretaries-General of the United Nations. Volume V: Dag Hammarskjöld 1960–1961. New York: Columbia University Press, 1975, p. 139.

47. See the contributions to Stahn C & H Melber (eds), Peace Diplomacy, Global Justice and International Agency: Rethinking Human Security and Ethics in the Spirit of Dag Hammarskjöld. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2014.

48. Westra L, Human Rights: The Commons and the Collective. Vancouver, BC: UBC Press, 2011, p. 263.

49. ‘Celebrating 19 years of South Africa's foreign policy’, Public Lecture by Deputy Minister of International relations and Cooperation, H. E. Mr Ebrahim I Ebrahim, South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), 4 July 2013, http://www.safpi.org/news/article/2013/dep-min-ebrahim-celebrating-19-years-south-africa-s-foreign-policy.

50. Roth K, ‘A facade of action. The misuse of dialogue and cooperation with rights abusers’, in World Report 2011. Events of 2010. New York: Human Rights Watch, 2011, pp. 1–22.