Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With globalization the world has become a much smaller place and there has been an increase in the
types of actors that take part in international relations. Even though foreign policy is normally the
domain of the national government, sub-national governments have also started to make their mark in
the international arena. The study of the role that sub-national governments play in the international
arena, as well as how they are represented nationally has been narrowed down to South Africa and one
of its nine provinces, namely the Western Cape Province. The thesis looks at how the provinces in
South Africa are able to play a role internationally and what powers they are given by the Constitution.
In South Africa provinces are allowed to sign Twinning agreements; although these agreements are not
legally binding in terms of International Law. For this thesis I use a ‘case study’ design to focus the
study, the case study for this thesis is the Western Cape Province. In terms of the research
methodology for data collection, I conducted interviews with Minister Ivan Meyer who is the Minister
responsible for international relation in this province. I also interviewed Mr. Roderick Thyssen who is
part of the Directorate of International Relations which forms part of the Office of the Premier. Further
primary data used in this study includes government documents, speeches, documentation on the
agreements signed by the Western Cape Province, and the Constitution of South Africa. Secondary
sources include books, journal articles and internet sources.
The study uses the theory of micro-diplomacy to show the “awareness of universal interdependence.”
Micro-diplomacy is not, however, a new concept but since interdependence across different levels of
government has become increasingly more prevalent it has developed into an important phenomenon,
requiring study. The concept implies that international relations are no longer the sole domain of
national government, but that international relations and agreements are entered into on the provincial
level as well, where provincial governments have taken responsibility for the “well-being of their
respective territorial communities and for their own political survival in them” (Duchacek, 1984:15).
The thesis found that even though the constitution of South Africa does not specifically give provinces
the right to enter into international relations it also has not been clearly defined, which means there is
room for interpretation. The Western Cape Province is a very active province in the international arena and market themselves in order to get more investments in the province for more funding to make it
possible to deliver services more effectively.
Provinces however are encountering obstacles such as, not being financially empowered, as well as
lacking some important resources. Opportunities are however given in the form of support by
institutions, such as the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Consultative Forum of International
Relations (CFIR), Ministers and Members of the Executive Council (MinMecs) and the President’s Coordinating
Council (PCC), created to represent the provinces where they can express their specific
needs and where they can also coordinate with the national sphere of government. There has been a
realisation by the national government that they are no more the only actors internationally and they
have started encouraging provinces to promote themselves. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Met globalisering het die wêreld baie kleiner geword en was daar 'n toename in die tipes akteurs wat
deelneem aan internasionale betrekkinge. Alhoewel buitelandse beleid normaalweg binne die domein
van die nasionale regering val, het sub-nasionale regerings ook begin deel neem in die internasionale
arena. Die bestudering van sub-nasionale regerings se rol in internasionale betrekkinge, as ook hoe
hulle op nasionale vlak verteenwoordig word, is vereenvoudig na die voorbeeld van Suid-Afrika en
een van die land se nege provinsies, naamlik die Wes-Kaap Provinsie. Die studie kyk na hoe die
provinsies in Suid-Afrika 'n rol speel op internasionale vlak en watter magte aan die provinsies gegee
word deur die Grondwet. In Suid-Afrika word provinsies toegelaat om “Twinning” ooreenkomste te
onderteken. Hierdie ooreenkomste is egter nie wettiglik bindend in terme van Internasionale
Wetgewing nie. Vir hierdie tesis gebruik ek 'n gevalle studie om die studie te fokus. Die gevalle studie
vir hierdie tesis gebruik die Wes-Kaap Provinsie as die fokus. In terme van die navorsingsmetodologie
vir die insameling van data, het ek onderhoude gevoer met Minister Ivan Meyer. Minister Meyer is
verantwoordelik vir die hantering van internasionale verhoudings in die provinsie. Ek het ook 'n
onderhoud gevoer met Mnr. Roderick Thyssen, wat deel is van die Direktoraat van Internasionale
Verhoudings wat deel uit maak van die Kantoor van die Premier. Verdere primêre data wat gebruik
word vir die studie, sluit regeringsdokumente, toesprake, dokumentasie oor die ooreenkomste wat
geteken is deur die Wes-Kaap Provinsie en die Grondwet van Suid- Afrika in. Sekondêre bronne sluit
boeke, joernaal artikels en internet bronne in.
Mikro-diplomasie teorie word gebruik om te wys dat daar 'n bewustheid is van universele
interafhanklikheid. Die konsep van Mikro-diplomasie is nie nuut nie, maar aangesien die
interafhanklikheid tussen die verskillende regeringsvlakke besig is om toe te neem vereis dit verdere
studie. Die konsep dui daarop dat die internasionale verhoudings nie net hanteer word deur die
nasionale regering nie, maar dat internasionale betrekkinge en ooreenkomste ook op provinsiale vlak
geteken word deur provinsiale regerings wat verantwoordelikheid geneem het vir die welstand van
hulle gemeenskappe en politieke oorlewing (Duchacek,1984:15).
Die tesis het gevind dat alhoewel die Grondwet van Suid-Afrika nie spesifieke regte gee aan provinsies
wat internasionale verhoudings betref nie, is dit ook nie duidelik uitgelê en gestipuleer in die Grondwet
nie, wat dit oop los vir interpretasie. Die Wes-Kaap Provinsie is baie aktief in die internasionale arena en bemark die provinsie op 'n internasionale vlak met die oog om buitelandse belegging te lok na die
provinsie om dienslewering te verbeter.
Provinsies ondervind struikelblokke soos geen finansiële bemagtiging en die ontbreking van belangrike
hulpbronne. Daar is egter bystand geleenthede wat deur instellings soos die Nasionale Raad van
Provinsies, Konsulterende Forum vir Internasionale Verhoudings, Ministers en Lede van die
Uitvoerende Raad en die President se Koördinerende Raad gegee word, dit is die doel van die
instellings om provinsies te verteenwoordig en waar provinsies hulle behoeftes kan voorlê en skakel
met die nasionale sfere van regering. Daar is 'n duidelike besef by die nasionale vlakke van regering,
dat hulle nie meer alleen deel neem op die internasionale verhoog nie en dus moedig hulle provinsies
aan hom hulself te bemark.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/6707 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Du Randt, Marlise |
| Contributors | De Jager, N. L., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xii, 60 p. : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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