Date & Time: Friday, October 26th, 2018 5:40 pm - 7:10 pm

Venue: Room 104, Research and Lecture Building, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies

Speaker: Scarlett Cornelissen (Professor in the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University/ Visiting Professor, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO)

Theme: South Africa's Economic and Political Relations with Northeast Asia

Title: South African Foreign Policy and SA's Asian Interests

Report:

On the 22nd ASC Seminar, held at TUFS on the 26th of October 2018, Professor Scarlett Cornelissen gave a lecture on the topic "South Africa's Economic and Political Relations with Northeast Asia". The presentation was divided in two parts, first the presenter gave an introduction to South Africa's Foreign Policy and how it had evolved from the apartheid era to present. She mentioned that in the beginning it was characterized by isolation, greatly influenced by the domestic ideology of apartheid. With the end of Apartheid, it shifted to become more open, with its pillars on: human rights, promotion of democracy, justice and respect for international law, international stability, interdependence and reflecting Africa's concerns and interests. Later, it started to focus more on national interests and finally it became more centered on economic diplomacy. She divided this evolution in a comparative analysis of each of the Presidential eras, pointing out the Foreign Policy Agenda promoted in each one.

The second part of the presentation addressed South Africa's Asian interests, giving special attention to trade relations between South Africa and China, Japan and South Korea throughout the years. It was mentioned that economic relations between South Africa and these three Asian countries are strikingly uniform.

On her concluding remarks, she mentioned that patterns of South Africa's Foreign Policy have been consistent, and that the Foreign Policy interests are shifting due partially to the rise of China's influence that is challenging South Africa's influence in the continent.

The Q&A session revolved around South Africa's Foreign Policy and its relation with domestic developments and about South Africa's relations with Northeast Asian countries, particularly China and Japan.