A systemic analysis of Thabo Mbeki's strategy to change the marginalisation of the global south

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to examine the chances that South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has inchanging the unbalanced relations between the powerful countries of the North and themarginalised developing world. In doing so, it investigates how the leaders of Northerncountries received the New Africa Initiative which was launched by a group of African headsof states, including Mbeki, at the G-8 summit in Genoa in July 2001.Unlike preceding works, this study takes a systemic perspective. The power relations ininternational affairs are pointed out with specific consideration of South Africa's status as anemerging middle power in the international system. Special recognition is furthermore givento the question as to whether there is currently a global re-think under way aboutglobalisation, the ideology of neo-liberalism and the interaction with poor countries in theglobal political economy.The study comes to the conclusion that despite the fact that South Africa as a middle power issubordinate to the powerful countries of the North when it comes to effecting global change,and despite the outcomes of Genoa that do not indicate that an equitable global order is close,there are considerable trends and developments visible which support what Mbeki is trying toachieve. As a consequence, it is contended that his Global Initiative has a much betterchance of being successful than the plea for a New International Economic Order in the1970s.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University