THE DARK SIDE OF ANC FOREIGN POLICY

An article in The Economist (5/9/15) described South Africa's foreign policy as "clueless and immoral." The influential publication provides broad spectrum objective insight and opinion on global issues with emphasis on economic and political matters. The fact that it has labelled South Africa's foreign policy as "clueless and immoral" is of immense cause for concern. The article, in essence, underscores the ruling party's very limited perspective of the world. For example, the article refers to a recent foreign-policy paper, drafted by the ANC, which asserts that "the fall of the Berlin Wall marked not the freeing of captive nations in Europe but a regrettable triumph of Western imperialism". Further that "the Pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in China were an American-backed counter-revolution". Also, that the conflict in the Ukraine is one "directed from Washington". Ordinarily, the foreign-policy paper should be considered as sheer drivel, but these are not ordinary times. Alarmingly, the paper was debated at the ANC's policy conference in October, 2015. It is evident that South Africa's foreign policy structure is based on two fundamentals: enmity to Western democracies, and reverence for China and Russia. In keeping with its foreign policy, China is now South Africa's strategic ally - a perceived beacon of transformation for South Africa's socio-economic ills. The ANC's national general council 2015 document gushes with admiration for China, extolling "the exemplary role of the collective leadership of the Communist Party of China . . . a guiding lodestar of our own struggle. . . a new dawn of hope for further possibilities of a new world order". The ANC has demonstrated a willingness to jump into bed with China, boots and all, irrespective of serious repercussions, such as South Africa's refusal of a visa to the Dalai Lama on China's probable bidding. One of the foundations of a country's foreign policy is to safeguard its national interest. South Africa's radical foreign policy appears focused in relegating its national interest in China's favour. In doing so, such relegation, or surrender, as the case maybe, evokes manifestations of the legendary Pied Piper who offered enticements (preferential trade in this case), and subsequently led his followers to their doom. While this may sound like hyperbole, it, nevertheless, resonates with a warranted cause for concern. The ANC's foreign policy objectives require a comprehensive overhaul, and in particular its predilection in aligning with non-democratic regimes, who, when all is said and done, are driven solely by nationalistic self-interest. According to The Economist, a country's foreign policy requires a balancing act between its principles and national interest. In this respect "South Africa's revolutionary foreign policy serves neither." South Africa's foreign policy will remain "clueless and immoral" until it understands the need to balance its professed democratic principles with national interest.