Southern Africa in a Multipolar World: External Power Competition and Regional Agency

Abstract

Southern Africa has become an increasingly important arena in global politics as the world shifts toward a multipolar order. Multipolarity expands Southern Africa’s diplomatic options but not its structural economic agency, producing a form of conditional agency constrained by enduring global economic hierarchies. Considerable scholarly attention has been devoted to understanding how countries in this region navigate the growing influence of external powers—China, the United States, the European Union (EU), Russia, and BRICS. This article examines how Southern African states balance external pressures with their own regional and national priorities, drawing on qualitative case studies from selected SADC member states. The analysis shows that while engagement with multiple global actors offers Southern African states opportunities to expand their diplomatic and economic options, structural constraints such as dependence on foreign aid, weak regional coordination, and uneven power relations often limit their ability to act independently. This article argues that Southern Africa’s ability to exercise meaningful agency in a multipolar world relies on stronger regional institutions and better coordination among member states. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of African agency and regionalism, highlighting both the challenges and possibilities for Southern African states in shaping their own regional environment.