Candidature diplomacy: South Africa and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's candidature to chair the AU Commission, 2011–2012. Issue 3 (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: van Wyk, Jo-Ansie
• Is Part Of: South African journal of international affairs. Volume 27:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 317
• Page End: 338
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: Africa -- African Union -- candidature diplomacy -- Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma -- South Africa -- Southern Africa -- vote buying; South Africa -- Foreign relations -- Periodicals; South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1989-1994 -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; World politics -- 1945-1989 -- Periodicals; 968
• DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2020.1832912
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-0461

Abstract

ABSTRACT: South Africa's nomination of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for election as the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) in 2011 remains controversial. In the absence of scholarship on South Africa's candidature diplomacy and on the Dlamini-Zuma candidature, the article explains the allure for states of leadership in intergovernmental organisations before outlining the South African rationale for, and campaign for, the Dlamini-Zuma candidature, a quest that was successful only after multiple rounds of voting over a six-month period. The article shows South Africa's extensive use of diplomatic lobbying and vote-trading as key instruments during the election campaign before outlining how the country's institutional practice and policies were refined, allowing South Africa to achieve its leadership aspirations utilising candidature diplomacy.