South Africa's second term at the UN Security Council: Managing expectations

The re-election of the Republic of South Africa as a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council for 2011 to 2012 follows shortly after its previous tenure from 2007 to 2008, and has attracted attention from a variety of quarters. Much of this attention is the result of selective interpretations in the West of the country’s conduct during its previous tenure. This is unfortunate because the associated caricature of Africa’s largest economy, the only African member of the G20 and which aspires to membership of the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and to permanent membership of the UN Security Council, prevents a serious interrogation of its potential role on the Council during the next two years.

This paper offers a short section on how global shifts in power may impact upon the Council and the associated chances for reform, before examining key themes and issues that South Africa will likely have to confront during its imminent tenure. It also offers a number of policy recommendations.

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South Africa's second term at the UN Security Council: Managing expectations