An analysis of the interdependence within the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Lesotho

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dc.contributor.advisorAkokpari, Johnen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorGrimwood, Zahiraen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2017-09-22T12:03:44Z
dc.date.available2017-09-22T12:03:44Z
dc.date.issued2017en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe main objective of this minor dissertation is to unpack the convoluted bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa. Lesotho's extreme dependence on South Africa is explored in terms of geopolitical dependence, labour migration, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and royalties accrued from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). The exhaustive amount of literature that explores these themes of Lesotho's dependence clearly reflects the dominance of South Africa during the apartheid and post-apartheid eras. A factor that further complicates these analyses is that South Africa, an 'economic giant' on the African continent, is dependent on the water resources of the politically and economically weaker, landlocked Lesotho. In consideration of South Africa's dependence on Lesotho's water, the relationship can be regarded as an interdependent relationship. The concept of interdependence and the theory of complex interdependence provide some theoretical basis from which to analyse the 'web of interactions' between the two countries. While apartheid South Africa was regarded as the quintessential realist actor, the post-apartheid government aimed to shed the skin of its predecessor's hegemonic pursuits in southern Africa. Post-apartheid South Africa has faced criticism as a nation-state that has unilaterally manipulated Lesotho in pursuit of maintaining its national interest, reducing the values of transfers from dependence factors. While the relationship may be characterised as asymmetrical interdependence, the nature of the relationship is not entirely the same as in the post-apartheid era. Each factor of dependence needs to be reflected on in order to shed light on the historical and current contexts that shows that the likelihood of interdependence would be sustained. South Africa's role should not be perceived merely in terms of power manipulation, but also in terms of factors of benevolence and cooperation that have changed the nature of the relationship between the two countries. In addition, there are factors not determined by South Africa that help to maintain the politically and economically fragile position of Lesotho.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationGrimwood, Z. (2017). <i>An analysis of the interdependence within the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Lesotho</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25300en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationGrimwood, Zahira. <i>"An analysis of the interdependence within the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Lesotho."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25300en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationGrimwood, Z. 2017. An analysis of the interdependence within the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Lesotho. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Grimwood, Zahira AB - The main objective of this minor dissertation is to unpack the convoluted bilateral relationship between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa. Lesotho's extreme dependence on South Africa is explored in terms of geopolitical dependence, labour migration, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and royalties accrued from the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP). The exhaustive amount of literature that explores these themes of Lesotho's dependence clearly reflects the dominance of South Africa during the apartheid and post-apartheid eras. A factor that further complicates these analyses is that South Africa, an 'economic giant' on the African continent, is dependent on the water resources of the politically and economically weaker, landlocked Lesotho. In consideration of South Africa's dependence on Lesotho's water, the relationship can be regarded as an interdependent relationship. The concept of interdependence and the theory of complex interdependence provide some theoretical basis from which to analyse the 'web of interactions' between the two countries. While apartheid South Africa was regarded as the quintessential realist actor, the post-apartheid government aimed to shed the skin of its predecessor's hegemonic pursuits in southern Africa. Post-apartheid South Africa has faced criticism as a nation-state that has unilaterally manipulated Lesotho in pursuit of maintaining its national interest, reducing the values of transfers from dependence factors. While the relationship may be characterised as asymmetrical interdependence, the nature of the relationship is not entirely the same as in the post-apartheid era. Each factor of dependence needs to be reflected on in order to shed light on the historical and current contexts that shows that the likelihood of interdependence would be sustained. South Africa's role should not be perceived merely in terms of power manipulation, but also in terms of factors of benevolence and cooperation that have changed the nature of the relationship between the two countries. In addition, there are factors not determined by South Africa that help to maintain the politically and economically fragile position of Lesotho. DA - 2017 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2017 T1 - An analysis of the interdependence within the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Lesotho TI - An analysis of the interdependence within the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Lesotho UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25300 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/25300
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationGrimwood Z. An analysis of the interdependence within the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Lesotho. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2017 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25300en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Political Studiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherInternational Relationsen_ZA
dc.titleAn analysis of the interdependence within the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Lesothoen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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