Thesis (MMil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As South Africa entered the transitional period towards establishing a multi-party democracy,
its defence policy changed fundamentally. The African National Congress (ANC) as the
upcoming governing party established the Military Research Group (MRG), to help formulate
its defence policy positions, which subsequently largely determined South African defence
policy. Through this think-tank the ANC leadership became interested in and supported the
idea of non-offensive defence (NOD). NOD is a European idea of the Cold War era, which
was aimed at preventing the security dilemma, arms races and accidental war between states.
The aim of this study is to describe the nature of defence policy-making in South Africa since
1994, by describing how NOD became prominent.
Non-offensive defence ideas influenced South African defence policy significantly and
appeared in all legislation and policies pertaining to defence. NOD complemented the ANC’s
domestic policy goals with the new security paradigm, which like NOD, originate from the
Peace Research school of thought. As a defensive idea, NOD emphasised South Africa’s
intention to improve relations with Southern African states, as well as its strategic
defensiveness, which determined the military doctrine of the South African National Defence
Force (SANDF). The ANC used NOD to transform the SANDF, especially to scale down its
power projection capabilities. Two arguments are made in this study to describe the nature of
defence policy-making in South Africa when the prominence of NOD is considered. Firstly,
that South African defence policy-makers are open to ideas and models from industrialised
states, despite the limited applicability and shortcomings of such models. Secondly, models
can be used in various ways by interest groups to influence policy. NOD was used as a
theoretical tool by the MRG and the military to influence defence policy according to their
interests.
Several characteristics of South African defence policy-making were also identified. Firstly,
that the Constitution does not prioritise state or individual security as more important. This
makes conflicting world-views of realism and idealism about defence possible. Defence policy
therefore often has to involve a compromise between these views. Secondly, although the
Constitution makes provision for public participation in defence policy-making, there is no
equal distribution of power for interest groups to influence policy. In this regard the legislature
and parliamentary defence committees are also weak compared to the executive authority.
Thirdly, the use of non-governmental organisations in defence policy-making has created a
form of direct and unrestricted lobbying, as well as the privatisation of policy-making. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tydens die politieke oorgangsperiode en die aanloop tot die vestiging van ‘n veelparty
demokrasie, het Suid-Afrika se verdedigingsbeleid wesenlike veranderinge ondergaan. As
opkomende regerende party het die African National Congress (ANC), die Military Research
Group (MRG) gestig om díe party se standpunte rondom verdedigingsbeleid te formuleer.
Sedertdien het die MRG, Suid-Afrika se verdedigingsbeleid grootliks omskrywe. Die MRG het
ANC leiers aan die term non-offensive defence (NOD), wat ‘n Europese idee uit die Koue
Oorlog-era is, bekendgestel. NOD is daarop gemik om die veiligheidsdilemma,
wapenwedlope en toevallige oorlog te verhoed. Die ANC het NOD ondersteun en bevorder.
Die doel van hierdie studie is om die aard van Suid-Afrikaanse verdedigingsbeleidmaking
sedert 1994 te beskryf aan die hand van NOD se prominensie.
Non-offensive defence idees het Suid-Afrika se verdedigingsbeleid beduidend beïnvloed en
verskyn in alle wetgewing en beleid wat verband hou met verdediging. NOD het die ANC se
plaaslike beleidsdoelwitte binne die nuwe veiligheidsparadigma ondersteun. Soos NOD, is díe
paradigma ‘n produk van die Peace Research denkskool. As ‘n defensiewe idee het NOD,
Suid-Afrika se oogmerk om betrekkinge met state in Suider-Afrika te verbeter, benadruk.
NOD het verder ook SA se strategiese defensiewe postuur en gepaardgaande militêre
doktrine bepaal en beklemtoon. Die ANC het NOD gebruik om die Suid Afrikaanse Nasionale
Weermag (SANW) te transformeer en magsprojeksievermoëns af te skaal. Twee argumente
word in hierdie studie benut om die aard van verdedigingsbeleidmaking in Suid-Afrika te
beskryf, met die inagneming van die belangrikheid van NOD. Eerstens, dat beleidmakers
ontvanklik is vir idees en modelle van nywerheidslande, ten spyte van die beperkte
toepaslikheid en tekortkomings van sulke modelle. Tweedens, dat modelle deur verskeie
belangegroepe gebruik kan word om beleid te beïnvloed. Die MRG en die SANW het NOD as
‘n teoretiese instrument benut om verdedigingsbeleid tot die bevordering van eie belange te
beïnvloed.
Verskeie eienskappe van Suid-Afrikaanse verdedigingsbeleidmaking is geïdentifiseer in die
studie. Eerstens, dat die Grondwet nie die staat of die individu se veiligheid bo die ander stel
nie. Dit veroorsaak botsende wêreldbeskouings van realisme en idealisme oor verdediging.
Beleid behels dus dikwels kompromieë tussen die twee uitgangspunte. Tweedens, alhoewel
die Grondwet voorsiening maak vir openbare deelname in beleidmaking, is daar nie gelyke ‘n
verspreiding van mag tussen belangegroepe om beleid te beïnvloed nie. In die opsig is die
wetgewende gesag en parlementêre komitees aansienlik swakker as die uitvoerende gesag.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16340 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Jordaan, Evert |
| Contributors | Seegers, A., Esterhuyse, A.J., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Military Sciences. Dept. of School for Security and Africa Studies. Military Strategy. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xii, 124 leaves |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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