Post-Apartheid South Africa and its Contribution to African Peace and Security

Abstract

Abstract This study has two main research questions. (i) Which factors have led to post-apartheid South Africa developing the Developmental Peacekeeping (DP) and Post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) peace and security strategies? (ii) Has post-apartheid South Africa’s peace and security innovations led to the resolution of African conflicts? These two questions were answered. First, using a thematic qualitative method approach, we found out that post-apartheid South Africa has, since 1994, been innovative to find permanent solutions to African crises. The second research question unravels that what is observable and discernable from the literature is that there is a sort of dependence on the Republic of South Africa because of its power capabilities. The theory that guides this study is the International Relations Structural Realism as advanced by Kenneth Waltz. The theory was tested for its efficacy in an African peace and security context. Although the paper does not perform a confirmation of the theory, it suggests that the Rational Persuasion theory (KP = W) be considered as a route that can be taken by African states in their quest for Continental peace.