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Regional hegemony as a tool for peace : an evaluation of South Africa’s role in regional development

Thesis (MA (Political Science. International Studies))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Southern Africa as a region requires a rallying point from where they can integrate and
mobilize their resources in order to create a security community, which acts both as a
deterrent to the outbreak of conflict and regional bloc to protect local industries from global
forces. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) does not have the strong
relationship which usually exists between states that share a common goal or interest. The
study argues that the lack of leadership within the region accounts for the weak cooperative
relationship that presently exists in Southern Africa.
This study argues that regionalization does not come about unless the states in a particular
region want it. It may come about through spontaneous or unintended convergence in terms
of political regime, economic policy or security, but often one can identify a triggering
political event which sets the process in motion. The study argues that the Development
Corridors apparent in Southern Africa can act as the triggering event and have the promise to
forge the most feasible cooperation amongst regional states. The phenomenon of Peace Parks
rooted in the Spatial Development Initiatives, offer a unique type of regional integration
embedded on traditional focal areas and Southern African Identity.
This study intends to analyze the potential ability of regional hegemony to foster peace
through development. The primary objective of this study consequently is to examine the role
of regional hegemonies as tools for peace; using South Africa’s hegemony in Southern Africa
as a case study. This study describes the importance of South Africa as a regional hegemon to
lead the process of creating a peaceful co-existence in SADC. To achieve the research
objectives the following questions have been formulated: What is South Africa’s role as a
development partner in Southern Africa? The second research question asks how the political
economy of regionalism is apparent in the Spatial Development Indicators (Development
Corridors). Specifically what contribution could Spatial Development Initiatives make
towards SADC’s regional integration objectives? The research questions provide an
impression of major socio-political developments looming in the region and also seek to
provide the required tools to analyze and understand what is going on in Southern Africa
today. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suider-Afrikaanse streek het ’n definitiewe behoefte om ‘n sentrale punt te identifiseer
waar beide integrasie kan plaasvind en hulpbronne gemobiliseer kan word om ’n veiligheids
gemeenskap te skep. Dit kan as ’n definitiewe teenvoeter dien vir die onstaan van konflik en
om plaaslike industrie te beskerm teen die soms negatiewe invloed van internasionale magte.
Die Suider-Afrikaanse Ontwikkelings Gemeenskap (SAOG) het huidiglik nie ’n sterk
verhouding wat tussen state met gemeenskaplike doelwitte en belange heers nie. Die kern
argument van hierdie studie is dat die tekort aan leierskap binne die streek een van die
hoofoorsake is vir die algemene swak samewerking wat tans bestaan in Suider-Afrika.
Die studie argumenteer dat sogenaamde streeks/regionale integrasie nie tot stand kan kom
tensy die state in ’n spesifieke streek ’n definitiewe behoefte daartoe het nie. Dit kan wel
onstaan deur middel van ’n spontane samevloei van politieke regimes, ekonomiese beleid en
veiligheid. Daar is soms egter ’n spesifieke gebeurtenis wat die proses laat onstaan. Die
studie argumenteer dat die sogenaamde Ontwikkelings Deurgange (‘Development Corridors’)
wat tans in Suider-Afrika ontwikkel as ’n moontlike vertrekpunt gesien kan word wat die
beste kans bied om samewerking tussen state te bevorder. Die onstaan van Vredes Parke
(‘Peace Parks’) gevestig binne die Ontwikkelings Deurgange, bied ’n unieke vorm van
regionale integrasie in Suider-Afrika.
Hierdie studie het ten doel om die potensiële moontlikheid van regionale hegemonie om
vrede te bewerkstellig deur middel van ontwikkeling te ontleed. Die hoof doelwit van hierdie
studie is om die rol van regionale hegemonie as instrument van vrede te ontleed. Die studie
sal spesifiek die gevallestudie van Suid-Afrika se regionale hegemonie in Suider-Afrika
ondersoek. Hierdie studie beskryf die belangrikheid van Suid-Afrika as ’n streeks moondheid
om die leiding te neem om vreedsame samewerking binne die SAOG te bewerkstellig. Die
volgende belangrike vrae is in hierdie studie gestel: Wat is Suid-Afrika se rol as ’n
ontwikkelings-vennoot in Suider-Afrika? Die tweede vraag probeer vasstel tot watter mate
die politieke ekonomie van regionale samewerking tans bestaan in die Omgewings
Ontwikkelings Indikatore (die sogenaamde ‘Development Corridors’). Watter spesifieke
bydraes kan hierdie inisiatiewe lewer om die SAOG se regionale integrasie doelwitte te
bereik? Die vrae probeer ’n geheel indruk skep hoe die Omgewings-Ontwikkelings Inisiatiewe (‘Spatial Development Initiatives’) tans bydra om ’n beter begrip te skep van
huidige verwikkelinge in Suider-Afrika.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/5403
Date12 1900
CreatorsMandela, Babongile Thabile
ContributorsSwart, Gerrie, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science..
PublisherStellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Formatx, 114 p.
RightsUniversity of Stellenbosch

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