Behind the name DIRCO

On the 10th of March (2021), I had a chance to listen to an interesting, but also thought-provoking chat held by the University of Pretoria (UP) through its LeadUP: In Conversation with the VC discussions. 

Centered around the theme ‘International Relations: Strategies for strengthening SA’s reputation on the global stage’ this discussion had raised the significance behind the country's (South Africa) international relations ministry name, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), as we know it. 

The Vice-Chancellor (VC) and Principal at UP, Professor Tawana Kupe, said for him the name DIRCO had connoted something that meant pursing a good goal in the public interest.

In her response to Professor Kupe on how international relations and cooperation was expressed in the actual practice, the Honourable Minister of DIRCO, Dr Naledi Pandor, said; in building international collaboration and partnerships, the government had realized that the practice of diplomacy was very broad, citing building both friendships and partnerships, seeking to assist South Africa in addressing its own unique challenges-but also building the ability of others to address their own, issues of bilateral and multilateral interests and issues of economic diplomacy. 

The Minister said it was therefore a "sense of ensuring that there is a name that gives credence to the complex and broad aspect of the work that this department has to undertake".

The intriguing thought was evoked by Senior Lecturer at the institution's Political Sciences Departement, Dr Sithembile Mbete, who highlighted that in realizing the intention behind the name, what we cannot get away from is the international (global) context within which SA operates, and in many ways one of conflict, competition and decisions being made in a national interest or particular state interest, and not for the global good. 

Mbete argued that international relations were still governed, in many ways, by power dynamics and by strategic interests.

I will take this discussion further when I write about the structure of international relations and its institutions, South Africa's foreign policy, and looking at how far, as a state, was it able to pursue its interests when it enjoyed a seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and when it had chaired the African Union (AU). 

The online virtual chat was the first installment of the 2021 episodes. 



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