Written evidence submitted by The Royal
Institute of International Affairs
This memorandum highlights key areas that we
think the Committee should focus upon. We also provide the Committee
with a list of the Royal Institute of International Affairs' (Chatham
House) Africa programme experts available for consultation and
a select bibliography of articles, books, and monographs for background
information.
ISSUES TO
FOCUS UPON
— To assess how South Africa's new
parliamentary institutions are functioning. It would be illuminating
to focus on the Portfolio Committees, particularly the Standing
Committee on Public Accounts, which scrutinised the defence contracts
and the corruption charges arising there from, which involved
some foreign companies.
— Britain's role in facilitating a
reduction/elimination of trade barriers for African goods, especially
agricultural commodities, within the EU. To what extent might
this benefit small-medium black farmers, in the light of the South
African Government's renewed commitment to land redistribution
and agricultural development?
— To what extent is Black Economic
Empowerment being reoriented to tackle mass poverty, rather than
(as some critics claimed) to nurture a small black elite? And
what mechanisms are being contemplated for job creation?
— Focus on the land issue in South
Africa. How are events in Zimbabwe influencing debates and policies
in South Africa, such as the ANC's Youth Commission policy on
land?
— Look at the South African policy
towards HIV-AIDS and the impact of this policy.
— South Africa and the New Partnership
for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Does South Africa dominate NEPAD,
and how does this influence its diplomatic efforts? What is the
impact of NEPAD outside Southern Africa?
— South African diplomatic initiatives
in Africa. How has South African foreign policy been decided and
who makes the decisions? What influence has the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, UK, over this and what are the successes and failures?
— Expansion of South African business
and investment in Africa. How does this compare with UK penetration
of emerging markets. What are the lessons for the UK?
— What is the role of South Africa
in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and where
is SADC going?
— What type of support is the UK giving
to civil society, particularly grass-root groups working on education,
health-care and public order issues?
THE 2003-04 SOUTH
AFRICA SERIES
AT CHATHAM
HOUSE
From October 2003, the Africa programme at RIIA
will hold a series of meetings and workshops to mark the 10th
anniversary of South Africa's transition to majority rule entitled
"South Africa's role in Africa: engine of development and/or
emerging regional hegemon?" The series is convened by Merle
Lipton and will be launched on 27 October with Essop Pahad, Minister
in President Mbeki's Office, speaking on "South Africa's
global and African political strategy". On 29 October, Jeffrey
Herbst, Professor of African Studies at Princeton University will
provide and assessment of "International responses to South
Africa's strategy". Members of the Committee are welcome
to attend these and other meetings. Details or this series are
available from the Africa programme at Chatham House: Liz.Horn@riia.org
Expertise Available From the Royal Institute of
International Affairs, Chatham House
Chris Alden, Associate Fellow, RIIA
Chris Alden is a specialist on South Africa's
foreign policy and co-author of the forthcoming Adelphi paper:
"South Africa's Post-Apartheid Foreign Policy: Africa's Last
Best Hope?" He is also a lecturer at the London School of
Economics and Political Science and from 1990 to 1999 was a Senior
Lecturer in the International Relations Department, University
of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Heather Deegan, Associate Fellow, RIIA
Heather Deegan is a specialist on democratic
change in South Africa and author of the book "Politics of
the New South Africa: Apartheid and After". She is also a
Senior Lecturer at Middlesex University.
Merle Lipton, Associate Fellow, RIIA
Merle Lipton is a South Africa expert and published
widely on various issues including on land, labour & livelihoods
in rural South Africa and the State & Market in post-Apartheid
South Africa. She is also a research fellow at the School of African
& Asian Studies, Sussex University.
Alex Vines, Head of Africa Programme,
RIIA
Alex Vines is a specialist in regional security and
light weapons proliferation. He has published widely on the proliferation
of light weapons in southern Africa and has also researched South
Africa's foreign policy in Africa. He is a senior researcher at
Human Rights Watch.
The Royal Institute of International Affairs
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