India-South Africa India-South Africa 2019 | Page 33

and closely involved with third world
internationalism. India was in the forefront
of the Bandung Conference, 1955 and later
became one of the strongest advocates of
nonalignment. Similarly, the current ruling
party in South Africa, the African National
Congress (ANC), is one of the most important
symbols of the third world struggle against
colonialism and racialism in the African
continent.
have to accept a multilateral order but then
India has grown phenomenally by doing just
that. India’s Tata Group and Vale, and South
Africa’s De Beers are just a few examples of
emerging economy multinationals striding
steadily onto the global stage.
Regional Leadership Paradox
Regional interactions have become the
crucible of legitimacy, leadership, and soft
power among emerging powers in the South.
The demise of superpower rivalry intruding
Table 1: Global Trade Scenario for
into the affairs of states has meant that
India and South Africa
local powers have increased
Country
Total Trade Current Trade
Expected their room for manoeuvre
in regional politics. This is
(billion
as Percentage of Share by
particularly true in the case
US$)
World Trade
2020
of India and South Africa,
India
157
0.9
1.73
both of which have sought
South Africa 66
0.4
0.45
to play a leadership role
in representing regional
Source: Compiled from data available at World Trade
Organization (WTO) and United Nations Conference on
interests in trade negotiations and the
Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
management of peace and security issues in
their regions.
Global institutions cease to be eff ective
South Africa’s Soft Power Strategy
when the allocation of decision-making
The South African government has grown
authority within them no longer corresponds
increasingly
confident in the promotion
to the distribution of power, and that is
of
its
position
as a “natural” leader of the
precisely the situation today. The UN Security
African
continent
and Mbeki’s articulation
Council is one obvious example; the G-7 is
of
“African
Renaissance,”
aimed to reassert
an even more egregious one. Incorporating
South
Africa’s
Africanness
and legitimize
emerging powers while placating status quo
states is no simple feat, but the task should
its continental and sub-regional leadership
appear less daunting when it is understood
status. This led to the New Economic
that success will benefi t all. Granted, they will
Partnership for African Development
India-South Africa • 2019 • 33