An unlikely success: South Africa and Lesotho's election of 2002
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2003
TITLE AUTHOR(S): R.Southall
KEYWORDS: ELECTIONS, LESOTHO, SOUTH AFRICAN FOREIGN POLICY, ZIMBABWE
DEPARTMENT: Developmental, Capable and Ethical State (DCES)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 1983
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/8915
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/8915
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
The Mbeki government's failure to take action against the blatantly undemocratic behaviour of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe, despite its commitment to the peer review mechanism proposed under the New Partnership for African Development, is highlighted by South Africa's armed intervention into Lesotho to quell post-electoral disturbances in 1998. Although initially accompanied by immense controversy, the South African military and diplomatic involvement was to prove crucial to a restructuring of Lesotho's previously recalcitrant Defence Force and to the promotion of inter-party negotiations that led to the adoption of a new and more appropriate electoral system. Alongside other international pressures, these initiatives led to a further election in 2002, whose undoubtedly legitimate outcome appears to have laid firm foundation for democratic consolidation and stability. Despite this 'unlikely success', And despite its formal commitment to an idealist foreign policy, the South African government has consciously downplayed its role in promoting democracy in Lesotho. The article argues that this is because of the exceptionality of that country, and South Africa's reluctance to have the use of force used as a precedent by its critics for cajoling it into adopting a more activist stance for dealing with the more complex situation in Zimbabwe.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Politics, voting and elections
- Impact of HIV/AIDS on SADC countries: recommendations to funders
- Southern Africa: a review of the region
- Lesotho: electoral landslide Heralds return to shaky democracy
- Environmental education, ethics and action in southern Africa
- Globalization and emerging trends in African states' foreign policy-making process
- Adapting to electoral system change: voters in Lesotho, 2002
- An audit of HIV/AIDS policies in Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe
- "Mohokare" - the river between: political expression of Free State - Lesotho tensions around election time-2004
- The general election in Lesotho, May 2002: adapting to MMP
- The Zimbabwe election: tragedy of a country torn apart by its violent past, its oppressed present, and its uncertain future
- Lesotho: peaceful election provides basis for consolidating democracy
- Lesotho: election crisis leads to South African-led intervention
- Popular attitudes towards the South African electoral system: report to the electoral task team.
- HIV/AIDS and land: case studies from Kenya, Lesotho and South Africa
- Post-cold war Zimbabwe's foreign policy and foreign policy-making process
- Public participation in South Africa as we enter the 21st century
- Lesotho 2000: public perceptions and perspectives
- Lesotho 2000
- Democracy, civic knowledge and social issues