Abstract
Developmental leadership contributes to socio-economic development in developing states. China has, for example, set itself an ambitious power development, production and distribution agenda, whereas Malaysia’s Big Fast Results Methodology is contributing to its economic development. Both these states offer some lessons for South Africa as Southern Africa’s strongest economy. In fact, South African President Jacob Zuma’s Operation Phakisa and its focus on, inter alia, the oceans or blue economy is directly taken from Malaysia’s Big Fast Results Methodology. Moreover, South Africa has consolidated its relations, especially in the power sector with China, which is expanding its nuclear power sector at a very fast pace. Against the aforesaid, the article intends to analyse the relatively new concept, developmental leadership, in the context of declared developmental states; and using two case studies (electricity and oceans governance) for illustrative purposes to determine the applicability, impact and lessons from the Chinese and Malaysian models for South Africa as a developmental state.
Highlights
The People’s Republic of China, South Africa and Malaysia have embarked on different development trajectories due to, inter alia, each state’s unique domestic and international needs and contexts
Besides China, Malaysia is perceived as an important leader and member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), giving Malaysia considerable status among its peers in the Movement as well as the Global South
The contribution concludes that China and Malaysia are both different and similar to South Africa
Summary
The People’s Republic of China (hereafter China), South Africa and Malaysia have embarked on different development trajectories due to, inter alia, each state’s unique domestic and international needs and contexts. As state leaders are here considered to be the main development actors, the article intends to analyse the concept, developmental leadership, in the context of China, Malaysia and South Africa as declared developmental states; and using two specific case studies (electricity and oceans governance) to determine the applicability, impact and lessons from the Chinese and Malaysian development models for South Africa as a developmental state. Subsequent to this, the State Council established a State Energy Leadership Group under the leadership of Premier Wen Jiabao including Vice-Premiers Huang Ju and Zeng Peiyuan as deputy heads of the Group – and the State Energy Leadership Office, as well as the energy focus of the Eleventh Five Year Plan; signalling the high political priority of the country’s energy security (Cheng, 2013: 6) Subsequent to these developments, various other energy reform initiatives followed to achieve the identified four main energy-related objectives, namely energy security; economic efficiency; social equity; and environmental protection (Meidan et al, 2013: 46-49). The 8-step methodology, as described by the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Senator Idris Jala (2014), entails: 1. Strategic Direction: determine the strategic direction required
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