South Africa and the Question of Hegemony in Africa

Abstract

This article examines the viability of mainstream neo-realist international relations scholarship for understanding regional power dynamics within Africa by offering a critical evaluation of the categorization of South Africa as a hegemonic power on the continent. Using the theoretical framework of hegemonic stability theory, it argues that there is a somewhat weak link between South Africa’s foreign policy character and its hegemonic disposition in Africa. The South African state, which is the driving force for political, economic and foreign policy processes, is itself subordinate in relation to international capital and lacks the influence expected of a regional hegemon. Despite South Africa’s development, the article demonstrates that its dependency provides the theoretical construct for understanding the country’s ambiguous hegemonic projection. This analytical framework captures the crux of the “hegemonic debate” as well as other conversations in relation to the adaptation of the concept of hegemony to Africa. Therefore, any application of the hegemonic discourse to South Africa necessarily requires a deeper understanding that takes cognizance of the fact that country’s regional hegemony operates within the orbit of a dependent-development paradigm in the global economic order, a neo-liberal order that continues to deepen Africa’s dependency syndrome. Dependency, as well as other complexities, impedes the reality of South Africa’s hegemonic ambitions in Africa.

A geopolitical analysis of South Africa-Nigeria trade relations (1994-2014)

“…Although some studies have explored South Africa's economic incursion into Africa since the end of apartheid, this study attempts to explore the empirical nexus between Pretoria's economic prowess and hegemonic influence in the continent. To be sure, Ogunnubi and Adeoye (2017) present a contrary argument on hegemonic contention in Africa in their submission that "due to the power configurations in Africa, we hold that South Africa is one of the major powers in Africa, one of the leaders of the African cause, but not a hegemon". The position and contribution of this paper is that regional power studies in Africa have often neglected the causal relationship between economic dominance and hegemony especially in the empirical realities of economic interaction between two major regional powers in the continent (Nigeria and South Africa).…”

“…Indeed there are many studies on regional hegemony in Africa, and on Nigeria and South Africa's hegemonic aspirations in this regard. (see Adebajo and Landsberg, 2003;Alden and Schoeman, 2013;Ogunnubi and Isike, 2015;Ogunnubi and Adeoye, 2017;Odubajo and Akinboye, 2017). A compelling read in this regard is that of Ogunnubi and Adeoye (2017), which used a typology of hegemons (benevolent, mixed-motives and exploitative) in literature to conclude that the status of hegemony does not fit South Africa or any African country for that matter.…”

“…(see Adebajo and Landsberg, 2003;Alden and Schoeman, 2013;Ogunnubi and Isike, 2015;Ogunnubi and Adeoye, 2017;Odubajo and Akinboye, 2017). A compelling read in this regard is that of Ogunnubi and Adeoye (2017), which used a typology of hegemons (benevolent, mixed-motives and exploitative) in literature to conclude that the status of hegemony does not fit South Africa or any African country for that matter. According to them, "a benevolent hegemon promotes the general welfare of states rather than its self-interest, and thus use rewards rather than force to earn the allegiance of other states.…”

Covid-19 and South Africa–china Asymmetric Relations

“…Many would agree with Marthoz (2012 , 2) that, since the demise of apartheid, “South Africa is undoubtedly the most powerful African nation” within the international system. While Nigeria's GDP exceeds that of South Africa, the latter is the most industrialized and advanced economy on the continent ( Ogunnubi and Akinola 2017 ).…”

“…Chinese officials have tagged South Africa as a “locomotive” for Africa's industrialization and regard the country as the gateway to the continent (Yu-Shan 2017). However, rather than acting as the voice of Africa through its membership of key global organizations, “South Africa seems to have used its influence solely to expand international trade for itself rather than genuinely seeking regional trade” ( Ogunnubi and Akinola 2017 , 6). South Africa continues to play a significant role in the African political economy through the presence of companies like MTN, Vodacom, Multi Choice, and Game in many African states.…”