An analysis of South Africa's bilateral relations with the Association of Southeast Asdian Nation (ASEAN) member states : the case of Indonesia and Singapore

Abstract

Since 1994, South Africa's foreign policy has been successful in establishing strategic relations with Asian countries to strengthen and promote its political, social and economic interests, through bilateral relations and multilateral engagements. This is a foreign policy study seeking to analyse the fundamental principles and approach of South Africa foreign policy in the Global South, by focusing on South Africa’s relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. It builds on the historical and ideological linkages between Asia-Africa relations with reference to the 1955 Asia-Africa conference in Bandung, Indonesia, where the principles and values of South-South Cooperation were firstly underlined. The study will be grounded on a conceptual framework using, the concept of Global South and Ubuntu Diplomacy in South African foreign policy. The purpose is to analyse the basis of South Africa’s relations with the ASEAN member states in terms of political, economic or ideological linkages. The approach and method of the research will be qualitative relying mostly on desktop research to gather primary and secondary data sources. The structure of the paper will begin with a background study on South Africa’s foreign policy in the Global South, followed by the challenges of South Africa’s engagement with ASEAN countries: Indonesia and Singapore, and conclusion with recommendations on strengthening South Africa’s bilateral relations with ASEAN member states.