Faculty of Humanities
School of Social Sciences
Department of Political Sciences
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
Research conducted together with Dr Chris Alden, senior lecturer at the London School of Economics investigated South Africa's foreign policy towards Zimbabwe during the period 2000 - early 2003. It was concluded that several reasons existed for the fact that South Africa did not seem to be able to influence the Mugabe regime, inter alia the rather acrimoneous relationship between the ANC and the (then ) ZANU party of Mr Mugabe during the struggle era that still clouds the current era, the fact that South Africa's standing in Africa is not as high as that of Zimbabwe that has, under Mugabe, historically been very influential, and the ANC-led government finds it difficult to project any criticism towards Africa since other African countries often interpret such criticism as being influenced or determined by the white population in the country. The government therefore often has to work with and through other African leaders, particularly Pres Obasanjo from Nigeria, when it aims to influence its African compatriots.
Contact person: Prof MME Schoeman.
Preventive diplomacy as a strategy of conflict resolution is researched since 2001. Initial country case studies included Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone; Sudan and Mozambique were added later. The basic thrust of the research sought to understand why, despite numerous diplomatic initiatives, conflict continued to persist on the African continent. To this extent even failed peace initiatives was useful since they provided "lessons learned" - or how not to engage in mediation. The study took the form of field trips, interviews, primary and secondary research. The research culminated in a book entitled Towards Sustainable Peace: Reflections on the Theory and Practice of Preventive Diplomacy in Africa.
Contact person: Prof H Solomon.
The three to eight million illegal immigrants currently residing in South Africa prompted research into the phenomenon. By guaging how they have entered South Africa, the impact they were having on the state and citizens of South Africa from a political, economic, security and socio-cultural perspective the study focused on measures needed to protect the competing rights of migrants and citizens. The results was published in a book entitled Of Myths and Migration: Illegal Immigration into South Africa.
Contact person: Prof H Solomon.
The Institute for Strategic Studies focused on crime as a national security issue, and specifically on border security and the involvement of foreigners, including illegal migrants in crime in South Africa. It was found that border security was not sufficient for combating crime and the illegal movement of goods and people, and that the number of foreigners implicated in crime in South Africa had increased. Currently close to 4 000 foreigners are serving sentences in South African prisons.
In Instituut vir Strategiese Studies het op misdaad as 'n nasionale veiligheidsvraagstuk gefokus, en spesifiek op grensbeveiliging en die betrokkenheid van buitelanders, insluitende onwettige immigrante, by misdaad in Suid-Afrika. Daar is bevind dat grensbeveiliging onvoldoende is om misdaad en die onwettige beweging van mense en goedere te bekamp, en dat die aantal buitelanders (insluitende onwettige immigrante) wat by misdaad in Suid-Afrika betrokke is, toegeneem het. Tans dien bykans 4 000 buitelanders gevangenisstraf in Suid-Afrikaanse tronke uit.
Contact person: Prof M Hough.
See Research Report Vol 1
Contact person: Mr AR Turton.
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