Analyzing Thabo Mbeki's policy of 'quiet diplomacy' in the Zimbabwean crisis

This thesis discusses the approach taken by the South African government in response to the political and economic crisis that has gripped neighbouring Zimbabwe since the year 2000. Its aim is to explain why South Africa, under the leadership of Thabo Mbeki, adopted the controversial policy widely referred to as 'Quiet Diplomacy'. It uses a Structuralist approach to international relations, and in particular Immanuel Wallerstein's World Systems Theory to characterise South Africa as a prototypical semi-peripheral state, with a dual-contradictory role in international relations. It argues that post- apartheid South Africa's failure to make genuine progress in terms primarily of economic transformation at home, has significantly constrained her ability to adopt more conventional diplomatic methods in dealing with the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Political Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2010

Author dc:creator

• Malimela, Langelihle Phakama

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Akokpari, John

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14271

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/14271