Foreign Policy and Security Challenges Facing South Africa: The South African Institute of International Affairs

Abstract

The chapter introduces the evolving political scenario in post-apartheid South Africa and its implications for the political environment concerning think tanks. In facing the foreign policy and security challenges, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) has enhanced its evidence-based policy research, taking into account newly arising untraditional security and foreign policy challenges both globally and domestically, while maintaining an independent posture between the government and civil society. The authors describe SAIIA’s structure and its mission, which evolved from providing a platform for public debate over South Africa’s engagement with the world to contributing to a well-governed, peaceful, economically and globally engaged Africa via more diversified topical coverage. Two case studies are described to explain how SAIIA has influenced the real policy shaping discourse. The first refers to the creation of a policy community in Africa around global economic governance (GEG). The second concerns SAIIA’s engagement with the South Africa Parliament, specifically on mining and developmental issues. Lastly, this chapter identifies three essential factors in SAIIA’s future development: the relationships within a network comprising different stakeholders; the correct choice of partners and sponsors; and a clearly planned long-term development framework.