Following on from last week’s focus upon West Africa, we now turn to another part of the African continent that is attempting to overcome aspects of its not so distant past in order to confront a rapidly changing international system. For most of the late 20^th century, much of Southern Africa was affected by the fallout from decolonization as well as intermittent ethnic unrest and intra-state conflict. The region also played host to a number of longstanding problems, such as a lack of infrastructure, little in the way of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and extreme poverty. Indeed, such problems were often exacerbated by a host of international sanctions imposed upon South Africa’s apartheid regime.

Yet the end of apartheid and the emergence of new rising powers from the ‘global South’ potentially allow the region to replicate West Africa and become a zone of distinct geopolitical significance. Southern Africa now benefits from substantial levels of FDI, particularly from the likes of China and India. This has not only benefited the region’s infrastructure; it has provided Southern Africa with opportunities to improve the social and economic wellbeing of its population. An equally significant factor behind Southern Africa’s emergence onto the global stage is the interest shown in the region’s natural resources by the resource-hungry Asian giants.

Southern Africa’s integration into the international system has undoubtedly benefited the region’s predominant economic and political actor. South Africa’s rehabilitation from a pariah state to a fully-fledged member of the international system has not only benefited its economic development but has also allowed the country to be recognized as an emerging global and regional actor. The once-isolated government in Pretoria is now an active participant at the United Nations as well as in regional organizations like the African Union (AU) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). South Africa’s status as a bona fide regional power has also been enhanced by its relatively recent inclusion in the BRIC grouping of emerging countries.

However, uncertainty remains as to whether South Africa is prepared to assume the mantle of regional power or if Pretoria is more focused on enhancing its reputation on the global stage. Indeed, resolving this dilemma is crucial in that Southern Africa remains blighted by poverty, less than democratic regimes and long-term problems associated with the spread of HIV/AIDS. But while South Africa appears ideally placed to lead initiatives to address such concerns, Pretoria seemingly remains comfortable with the likes of China providing economic and moral guidance to Southern Africa. This in turn allows Beijing to consolidate economic and political power across the region, often at the expense of Pretoria.

With such dilemmas in mind, this week we address several questions. Firstly, are external actors like China in fact complicating development and security across Southern Africa? Moreover, how are local frictions and challenges posed by disease and poverty affecting regional security dynamics? Finally we consider whether South Africa will trade its ‘semi-reluctant’ hegemony over the region for more participatory, inclusive and integrated relations with its neighbors. We begin by analyzing whether Southern Africa is increasingly falling under Beijing’s or Pretoria’s influence. What then follows is consideration of how ethnic tensions, xenophobic violence, state failure and HIV/AIDS combine to influence the geopolitics and security of Southern Africa.

Our week concludes by considering how South Africa is dealing with the discomfort of the apartheid era and how this impacts upon their specific regional perspectives on power. To assist, we analyze the actual and hoped-for security architecture overlaying Southern Africa. While the needs of Pretoria will undoubtedly dominate this security architecture, we also give consideration to the demands made by the other states of the region. This is especially important in that they help to determine South Africa’s relations with the region, as well as its diplomatic ties with external hegemonic actors.