South Africa’s Maritime Diplomacy

Highlighting South Africa’s approach to maritime diplomacy, this book shows how this approach is inherently cooperative and blends elements of both soft and hard power effectively. Employing realist and constructivist theories, this book explores the nature and scope of maritime diplomacy broadly. It discusses South Africa’s maritime industry, ocean economy, and the domestic policies that support its maritime interests. It analyses the conceptual relevance of hard and soft power in contemporary diplomacy and investigates their connection to maritime diplomacy in the South African context. The strategic application of these power forms in maritime diplomacy serves as a crucial tool for states to achieve their maritime foreign policy objectives more effectively. Further, the book applies theory to specific case studies such as the country’s demonstration of its power dimensions in Operation Phakisa and examples of South African humanitarian assistance, aid, disaster relief, and rescue missions at sea. By untangling South Africa’s approach and comparing this to other countries within and outside of Africa, the book provides deeper insight into how soft and hard powers are used in South Africa and how South Africa’s maritime diplomacy works. It fills an important gap in understanding African politics, international politics, and maritime diplomacy.