Diplomatic Strategies of The Rising Nations in The Global South: The Search of Leadership and Influence

At a time of change in the international system, this book examines how non-traditional leading nations from the Global South have fared to date and what the chances are of their rise to continue. In the second decade of the twenty-first century, the enthusiasm of observers of the international scene about the “rise of the rest” is waning as many countries that were expected to lead the evolving multipolar order are experiencing economic contraction and governance problems. In order to predict further developments, the contributors to this volume focus on the types and sources of the diplomatic strategies that must be executed by rising states if they are to preserve domestic advances as well as gain influence regionally and internationally. Through a comprehensive examination of case studies from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, they show that while there are commonalities among these rising states, unique domestic conditions, values, and traditions impact and predictdiplomatic strategizing and the ability for sustained projection on the international scene. Preface About This Book Contents Notes on Contributors List of Tables 1 Introduction: The Global South and the Multipolar Moment Introduction A Third Great Power Shift The Global South (GS)2 An Incipient and Different Multipolarity Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Leadership, Power, Influence: Some Considerations Scope/Selection of Countries Notes References Part I The Search for Global Leadership and Influence 2 Brazil’s Uncertain Rise: Ambitions and Challenges Introduction A Theoretical Note Aims and Strategies of Brazil’s Foreign Policy Foreign Policy Initiatives Under the Workers’ Party Administrations (2003–2014) Changes in Brazil’s Foreign Policy, 2016–2022 Influences and Drivers in Brazil’s Foreign Policy Democratization Economic Factors Presidential Vision Culture Bureaucratic Culture Prospects for the Future Notes References 3 China, the Global South and the Struggle for Hegemony Introduction Analytical Framework and a Conceptual Note China’s Search for Global Leadership Since 1949 China’s Diplomatic Strategies: Multiple Means to Myriad Ends A “Soft” Security Policy: Hard Power Assets in Exchange for Soft Power Dividends A “Developmental” Economic Policy: Balancing Domestic and External Interests A Multilateralist Policy: Seeking Multipolarity in International Affairs Internal and External Influences on Chinese Diplomacy The Impact of the Global Structure Domestic Structure and Personal Preferences Societal Influences: Nationalism Problems and Prospects in China’s Struggle for Hegemony Conclusion Notes References 4 India’s Diplomatic Strategies and Foreign Policy: Decoding the “Saffron” Elephant Introduction Ideas and Concepts Indian Foreign Policy Strategies Between Idealism, Realism, and Pragmatism Nonaligned to Multialigned The Wider Region Commitment to Global Multilateralism Influences on India’s Foreign Policy The Domestic Environment Economic Growth and Transformation Decentralization Religion and Culture Decision-Making and the Foreign Policy Bureaucracy Assessment Conclusion Notes References 5 The Search for Global-Regional Power: South Africa in Africa and the World Introduction Conceptual Framework South Africa’s Foreign Policy Strategies: Patterns of Continuity and Change South Africa in the Global Arena South Africa and the Global South South–South Cooperation The African Agenda Foreign Policy Drivers A History of Struggle Shifts in the External Environment The Domestic Context Assessing South Africa’s Foreign Policy Achievements and Challenges Conclusion Note References Part II The Search for Regional Leadership and Influence 6 Colombia: Negotiating the Domestic–Global Nexus Introduction Relevant Conceptual Frameworks Strategies in Colombia’s Diplomacy Colombia and the USA: An Enduring Relationship Attempts at Diversification of Relations Regionalism and Multilateralism Influences on Colombia’s Foreign Policy The Security Environment Leadership Orientations Economic Influences Public Opinion The Diplomatic Machinery Conclusion: Colombia Going Forward Notes References 7 Iran’s Diplomatic Strategies: A Permanent Quest for Regional Power Status Introduction: Iran, a Regional Power Theorizing Iranian Foreign Policy Iran’s Diplomatic Strategies Pre-revolutionary Strategies: Prioritizing Hard Power Hard and Soft Power Post 1979 Pragmatism in the 1990s Countering Ostracism with Cooperation and Soft Power Anti-System Strategies Active Diplomacy and Asymmetric Deterrence A Pragmatist-Ideological Policy Drivers of Iran’s Foreign Policy/Diplomacy Systemic Factors Ideology and Culture Leadership Factors Elite Contention Role of Bureaucratic Institutions Assessment Conclusion: Future Prospects Notes References 8 Kenya’s Search for Regional and International Influence Introduction Conceptual Framework Kenya’s Foreign Policy Strategies Drivers of Kenya’s Foreign Policy Geographical Location Leadership and Governmental Factors Political and Societal Culture The Bureaucracy Conclusion: Prospects References 9 Nigeria in the Region and the World: Diplomatic Challenges in a Multipolar World Introduction Changes in Theorizing Nigeria’s Foreign Policy An Ambitious Foreign Policy Regional Relations International Efforts Nigeria’s Foreign Policy: Influences and Challenges Democratization The Impact of the Economy Culture The Decision-Making Structure and the Bureaucracy A Concluding Assessment Notes References 10 Saudi Arabia’s Pursuit of Status Recognition Introduction A Note on Power and Status: The Saudi Puzzle Saudi Strategies Since 2015 Domestic Influences on Saudi Foreign Policy Role of the Leadership Governmental and Bureaucratic Structure Leadership Circle and Decision-Making The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Personalization vs Institutionalization Culture and Society Some Problems Conclusion: Prospects for a Future Rise Notes References Part III The Search for Subregional Leadership and Influence 11 Cuba: Still Waging Niche Diplomacy Introduction A Theoretical Note Cuba: Strategies in the Subregion and Beyond Regionalism Internationalism The Special Case of Medical Diplomacy Influences and Drivers of Cuba’s Diplomacy The Economy Nationalism, Culture, and Identity The Centrality of Leadership and the State Challenges Conclusion Notes References 12 Rwanda: Punching Above Its Weight in the Great Lakes Region Introduction Relevant Concepts An Ambitious Foreign Policy Rwanda’s Economic Ambitions National Security The DRC Uganda Regionalism and Multilateralism Influences on Rwanda’s Foreign Policy The Government Structure and Kagame’s Transformative Authoritarianism A Societal Construction: Genocide Memory Civil Society Role of the Foreign Policy Bureaucracy Conclusion: Challenges and Opportunities Notes References 13 Singapore’s Diplomatic Strategies: Prioritizing Rationality, Encountering Slippages Introduction Theorizing Singapore’s Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Singapore’s Foreign Policy: Enlargement Strategies Regional Mediation and Balancing Activism Within International Organizations The Singapore Model of Development Influences on Singapore’s Diplomacy Historical Rationality and Post-Independence Leadership Values and Diplomacy Lee Kuan Yew’s Practical Approach The Bureaucracy Assessment Conclusion Notes References 14 The New International Relations of the United Arab Emirates: Regional Alignment and Global Rise Introduction A Conceptual Note: The UAE as a Middle Power UAE’s Diplomatic Strategies Since Independence The Imperative of Security Elements of a Low-Key Approach The Search for Influence A Geopolitical Realignment and Diversification of Relations Global Multilateralism Drivers of UAE Foreign Policy Geopolitics Domestic Factors Governmental Structure and Political Leadership The Economy The Demographic Imbalance Concluding Assessment References 15 Conclusion: Commonalities, and Going Forward Introduction Evaluating Common Strategies Economic Diplomacy for Advanced Development The Importance of Participation in Global Multilateral Forums Influences on Foreign Policy and Diplomacy The Diplomatic Corps Moving On Notes References Index