Browsing by Author "Magam, Nolubabalo Patricia Dawn."

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Analysis of the effectiveness of international partnership agreements in local municipalities in South Africa : case of eThekwini Municipality.
(2017) Camagu, Luvuyo Aggrey.; Magam, Nolubabalo Patricia Dawn.
Abstract available in PDF file.
A critical analysis of South Africa’s relations with China.
(2017) Dladla, Nontokozo Thobela.; Magam, Nolubabalo Patricia Dawn.
Abstract There has been a lot of speculation in terms of the bilateral relations between China and South Africa. China has been seen regarded as a rising power within the international system that is even changing the world order and challenging the United States of America as a global hegemony. With the Asian country’s fast growing economy, it has had to go out in search of new markets and also secure natural resources to maintain their economic growth. South Africa has been identified as one of the most developed countries in Africa and the Sino-South African partnership has always worked in favor of China. China has had open access to South Africa’s natural resource, market and China is also able to generate foreign investment from the country. China has never colonized Africa and through its soft power mechanisms it has been able to convince countries such as South Africa that it is better to do business with China than the West. Critics such as Krauss and Bradsher (2015) are concerned that China’s controversial human rights record may pose a bad example for African countries and this has been considered as one of the primary effects of doing business with China. Other identifiable effects of the Sino-African business relationship also include corruption which takes the guise of a noninterference policy, exploitation of resources within South Africa and also interference within bureaucratic issues have managed to prove that China has managed in some way to control South Africa’s internal affairs. This research seeks to critically explore the bilateral relations between China and South Africa. By employing a fusion of the Dependency theory and neocolonialism as a conceptual framework, the study aims to show that China is a colonizer in South Africa. Through neocolonialism China has been able to control South Africa by using mechanism of soft power and these tactics are causing the African country to depend more and more on the Asian country. Overcoming apartheid indeed proved to be a big milestone for South Africa as it exposed the country international platforms which it had not been capable of before. Although South Africa recognizes its sufficient role as a game changer within the China-Africa bilateral relations, the country however has proven to have very little capacity capable of dictating how to conduct a relationship that is beneficial to her. A lack of bargaining power linked to issues such as economic standing and the status of being a third-world country plays a crucial role in limitingSouth Africa’s influence as there are still negative connotations associated with the continent. Africa’s self-developmental ambitions through organizations such as NEPAD seem to be a farfetched dream that the continent can only hope for. The frailty of South Africa stands as an obstacle in the country’s efforts in going against the global norm of attaining development on its own and this could result in further isolating the country from the international system. Both the USA and China have used the opportunity of South Africa being a gate opener to the rest of Africa to their advantage and either seems to be better than the other. As such expansion of relations between China and South Africa promote the trend of going against global norms set out by the west has become increasingly popular, such as violation of workers’ rights and putting economic drive before the needs of the people. Unlike China the game of chasing economic emancipation before respecting and adhering to global norms has undoubtedly worked against the African country as it fails to match up to the capabilities of China.
Paradiplomacy in South Africa: the role of interest and identity in the international relations of KwaZulu-Natal province.
(2018) Magam, Nolubabalo Patricia Dawn.; Mtshali, Khondlo Phillip Thabo.
This study offered an analysis of the importance of international relations activities undertaken by sub-national governments in South Africa, with a specific reference to the province of KwaZulu-Natal. These activities were conceptualised as paradiplomacy. The goal of the study was to advance the notion of paradiplomacy and explore how identity and interest facilitate paradiplomacy. The study explored this phenomenon from the context of Constructivism as a theory, highlighting the role of interests and identity in paradiplomacy. Positing a reciprocal relation between identity and interests, Constructivism argues that identities and interests shape and are shaped by foreign policy of a particular political entity. This was a qualitative, single-case study which relied on primary and secondary data.. Semi-structured interviews with key informants from the national government, provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal, external partners and academics, were used to gather empirical data. In addition to that, official government reports, international agreements and MOUs were analysed to augment the empirical data. In addition, the works of leading scholars in paradiplomacy such as Geldenhuys and Nganje (in South Africa) and Kuznetsov, Keating,Lecours,amongst others were invaluable sources of secondary data in this study. The study contributed to the growing body of literature on paradiplomay by providing analytical insight into (i) What is the legal framework for paradiplomacy in South Africa; (ii) What is the role of interest and identity in paradiplomatic activities of KwaZulu-Natal and (iii) How has paradiplomacy affected development in the province? Although subnational governments engage in international relations, primarily, for developing their local economies, they also advance the national agenda. In the case of South Africa, paradiplomacy is a reflection of the national government’s foreign policy agenda. The study showed how KwaZulu-Natal’s identities and interests are shaped by the broader and historical South African context. The study demonstrated how KwaZulu-Natal’s paradiplomatic activities are influenced by interests and identities. In addition, the study also explored the existence of multiple identities and interests, which are as a result of social and corporate identities. The findings revealed that paradiplomatic activities in the KwaZulu-Natal advance the provincial development strategy. The specific areas of cooperation are development-oriented and address development challenges the province is faced with. The study concluded by recommending that the legal framework of paradiplomacy be explicit in the constitution, to ensure that subnational governments work within a clear and explicit constitutional framework.
The role of international financial institutions in Africa’s development: how the failures of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund led to the creation of the African Development Bank.
(2020) Nhlapo, Nqobile.; Magam, Nolubabalo Patricia Dawn.
International Financial Institutions (IFIs), are all financial institutions that operate internationally they provide loans to the government for extensive projects, streamlining, and balance of payments to achieve growth and development. IFIs include institutions such as The World Bank, The International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the African Development Bank (AFDB). The study looked at the role of International Financial Institutions' role in Africa’s development, the focus is the World Bank, IMF, and The African Development Bank. The main aim of this study was to look at the correlation between IFIs and development in Africa and the reason behind the establishment of the African Development Bank. The study adopted two theories namely Dependency theory and Neoliberalism to capture the variables of the study. the dependency theory highlighted how the economic history of Africa led to the dependency on developed countries. Based on the dependency model assumption that political and economic power rests in the developed country, dependency theory argues that Africa’s dependence on IFIs and developed countries is detrimental to the continent’s development. Whilst the Neoliberal theory highlights the link between economic and political freedom. This was a qualitative study as it is mainly exploratory. A case study approach was used to help examine the data and get a better understanding of the ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions. Secondary data was sourced from books, journal articles, official reports, and websites. Secondary data provided a clear indication of the African development banks' role in the African continent. The study contributed to the existing literature by providing insight into the major challenges to Africa’s economic development, the role of the IMF and the World Bank in Africa’s economic development and how has the African development bank contributed to economic development in Africa. Although the World Bank and the IMF have good intentions in trying to develop Africa however their actions led to Africa’s underdevelopment, poor human growth, and rise in poverty. The SAPs and conditionalities imposed by the World Bank and IMF diverted African economies into free fall. The study showed how the African Development Bank made improvements in Africa such as allowing the continent to be the main players in their development. The study has also shown the challenges faced by the bank because of Africa’s context of low growth and small fragmented economies. It concluded by tracking Africa’s current development and recommending that the bank promotes economic development, provide capacity development for structuring deals, promote regional stability, private sector jobs need to meet the increasing youth population and focus on one sector at a time.
The role of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in facilitating continental integration.
(2020) Luthuli, Isaac.; Magam, Nolubabalo Patricia Dawn.
The dissertation examines the role the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) can play in facilitating the political and economic convergence of the African Union (AU) member states. The developmental challenges facing Africa in spite of its wealth of human and natural resources is poignant. The genesis of this problem can be traced to the history of colonialism and the wave of independence in the continent in the late 1950s. Arguments have been put forward to suggest that one of the most viable ways of promoting Africa’s development is by developing and promoting intra-continental trade which can be possible through continental integration. The specific areas reviewed are regional stability and how intra-regional trade and investment is used to promote economic convergence. Africa's need for political and economic integration at a continental level is further sustained by the assumption that neocolonialism can be blamed for the weakness of structures in African states. Some scholars agree on the idea that regionalisation is often seen to offer a possibility to respond to the challenges of globalization. This impact nevertheless is dependent on the relation between globalisation and regional sentiment. Regional integration implies a form of interdependence among nation-states. Such interdependence leads to an establishment of regional integration arrangements between sovereign states within a geographical space. These agreements are shaped formally and there is a commitment to work together in order to realise political and socio-economic benefits. This study maintains that in order to achieve effective integration of the continent, Nigeria and South Africa as case studies, as continental giants have a key role to play to this end and as members of ECOWAS and SADC respectively. It is argued here that both the SADC and ECOWAS as sub-continental blocks have made some notable and commendable progress in developing policies for trade liberalization and economic integration, this, however, is not enough as such policies are also pertinent at a continental level. The study found that SADC and ECOWAS as regional blocks can play a role in aiding the continent to achieve a trade liberalization to achieve continental economic development.