ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to thread together different aspects of the young and still evolving Namibian foreign policy. Namibia's foreign policy has been tailored around the twin issues of economic development and territorial integrity within the context of southern Africa. Namibia's economy is fairly dependent on the mining sector with agriculture playing a secondary role. Political issues that have contributed largely to the shaping Namibia's foreign policy have had to do with the need to secure her territorial boundaries. The most active actors in foreign policy-making in Namibia have tended to be limited to institutions and processes influencing inter-state affairs. As is the case in most African states, Namibia's Presidency— consisting mainly of the President and to some extent the Prime Minister— has been the most powerful actor in the foreign policy-making process. The fact that South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) is Namibia's dominant party has also led to the blurring of the distinction between it and the Government.
