Is South Africa becoming the peacemaker in Africa?

 Key to South Africa’s role as mediator is the high reputation of its own negotiated settlement, the iconic status of Nelson Mandela as a master of reconciliation, and the sense that South Africa has a moral obligation to “repay” Africa for the sins of apartheid. Indeed, it was not long after the first democratic elections in 1994 that South Africa was called to respond to a variety of crises in African states.As the essays in this collection reflect, South Africa’s policy in Africa, while broadly integrated, also manifests contradictions. It has shifted over the past decade, from a unilateral to a multilateral approach. Some situations, notably in Lesotho and Zimbabwe, are dictated by self-interest. Others, such as those in Burundi and Ivory Coast, offer an opportunity to “export” the South African transition process. Ultimately, however, the conclusion is drawn that South Africa’s self-interest is increasingly aligned with the promotion of peace on the continent.South Africa’s role in conflict resolution and peacemaking in Africa – Conference proceedings edited by Roger Southall (HSRC Press) showcases a number of case studies analysing South Africa’s attempts to bring various wars and conflicts to an end. Initiatives in Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo are examined in detail. Furthermore, the collection features debate around several parallel issues – the role of truth commissions, war-crimes trials and other methods; the gendered nature of peace processes and how this can be improved; the ambiguities of the South African arms industry; and ten suggested principles of best practice engagement in conflict resolution.Authors drawn from the HSRC, the Institute for Security Studies, the International Crisis Group, the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa, and both university-based and independent scholars offer important contributions to the discussion. They include Henri Boshoff, Claude Kabemba, Dale McKinley, Hussein Solomon, John Daniel, Alison Lazarus, and Peter Kagwanja.It’s widely recognised that South Africa’s foreign policy has undergone a major transformation since 1994. The country has shifted from being a West-orientated state seeking to dominate, to an Africa-centred country dedicated to co-operative relations with its neighbours. Moreover, it follows the philosophy that links development potential to the resolution of conflict and the promotion of peace.In this light, a collection of essays that documents South Africa’s attempts to bring various of Africa’s wars and conflicts to an end is of immense value in weighing up the successes, failures, constraints and capacities of the process. Moreover, it makes for fascinating reading.Copies of all of HSRC Press published titles are available from leading booksellers nationally, and from the online bookshop at www.hsrcpress.ac.za.Contact Details Name : Karen Bruns Company : HSRC Press Phone :+27 21 466 8022 Email : kbruns@hsrc.ac.za URL : www.hsrcpress.ac.za.