Abstract
The proliferation of sub-national governments (SNGs) in foreign affairs has challenged the Westphalian notion where states are the major players in foreign affairs. This research examined the relevance of the foreign relations activity of SNGs in South Africa, with a focus on the Eastern Cape province. International relations of SNGs or paradiplomacy was coined to describe these efforts. The research used the Eastern Cape province as a case study to examine the work of the International Relations and Cooperation Unit (IRCU) under the Office of the Premier (OTP) against a backdrop of scarce scholarly literature in this field. The Eastern Cape is the study’s major emphasis since it is the so-called ‘home of the legends’ and South Africa’s automotive hub, putting the province in an advantageous position to conduct international relations; reciprocal relations, and cordial ties with neighbouring, and other nations, internationally. The study investigated the international relations of SNGs within the framework of neo-liberalism as a theory supplemented by constructivism theory and realist theory where its weak, emphasising the significance of multiple actors, non-state actors in the process, identity and statehood. Neo-liberalism asserts that multiple channels, multiple actors and non-state actors shape the conduct of paradiplomatic activity and foreign policy in South Africa. The study adopted a qualitative, and a single case study, approach that drew on primary and secondary sources of information. Semi-structured interviews with academics and officials from the Eastern Cape office of the premier; Eastern Cape provincial entities and external partners were conducted to inform the empirical data. In addition, internal documents from the OTP; twinning agreements, and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were examined to supplement the empirical data. Moreover, prominent international relations SNGs scholars such as Geldenhuys; Nganje; Magam; Matshili, and Zondi in South Africa and Schiavon; Kuznetsov, and Aldecoa, among others, provided vital secondary data for this study...
M.A. (Politics and International Relations)