ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to expose the fallacy that Pretoria’s inextricable involvement with Southern Africa is purely functionalist. It analyses the two strains of incorporation and assesses their impact on select facets of Southern African relations. The discussion of South Africa’s regional policy itself is preceded by some comments on the alternative analytic approaches to the subject and on the peculiar difficulties that confront all attempts to understand the problem. The idea of a ‘constellation of states’ has also sought to incorporate Pretoria’s neighbours. The policy of assertive incorporation has been continuously practised by South Africa for the best part of two decades. The military approach to coercive incorporation has taken three forms: direct attack; support for dissident movements; and semi-conventional warfare. South Africa’s support for dissident political movements in the region is also part of coercive incorporation.
