Candidature diplomacy: South Africa and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's candidature to chair the AU Commission, 2011-2012

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 allur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The South African journal of international affairs 2020-07, Vol.27 (3), p.317-338
Main Author: van Wyk, Jo-Ansie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa
African Union
candidature diplomacy
Diplomacy
Dlamini-Zuma, Nkosazana
Elections
International organizations
Leadership
Lobbying
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
Political campaigns
South Africa
Southern Africa
Trading
Tribunals & commissions
vote buying
Voting
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Summary: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.
ISSN:1022-0461
1938-0275
DOI:10.1080/10220461.2020.1832912