Beyond apartheid: moral identity, FIPAs, and NEPAD in Canada–South Africa relations

Abstract

Canada has more often than not portrayed a moral image in its relations with South Africa. However, many would agree that Canada has a mixed record in South Africa and that the pursuit of human rights and racial equality in Canada's foreign policy is accompanied by the pursuit of economic interests. Canada–South Africa relations received a major boost under the Chrétien government when the two countries forged closer ties and used multilateral institutions such as the Commonwealth to promote human rights, rule of law, and democracy particularly in African states. At the bilateral level, Canada signed a Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with South Africa. Moreover, the launching of the New Partnership for Africa's Development in 2001 helped to further deepen Canada–South Africa economic relations. However, recent changes in the geographic focus of Canada's policy, especially the ‘look to the Americas policy’, raises the question as to where South Africa sits on the foreign policy agenda of Canada. This paper looks at Canada's economic relations with South Africa in the post-apartheid era through the lens of moral identity and asks, what are the impacts of the Harper government's ‘look to the Americas’ policy on Canada–South Africa economic relations? And does the promotion of human rights inform Canada's economic policy towards South Africa after apartheid?