South Africa, The Half Hegemon

Abstract

This paper sets out to examine the impediments to South Africa's hegemony in Africa and further recommends on policies and actions, which could be implemented by the country to strengthen its case as a leading and dominant power in the continent. While acknowledging the need for a pilot state in Africa, this paper outlines the features that qualify South Africa as a hegemon in the continent. These include landmass, purchasing power parity, industrial output, military power and international status. The paper then analyses the factors thwarting South Africa's leadership in the continent. These factors circulate around issues related to lack of will power, poverty, income disparity, crime and xenophobia. In the last section, suggestions are made on policy options necessary in bringing the country to the helm of affairs in the continent

Keywords: Hegemon – A dominant state within a specific region.

IFE PsychologIA Vol. 16 (2) 2008: pp. 27-35