ABSTRACT
South Africa relies on a number of defense mechanisms to protect its ego from criticism and self-judgments, as is evident from recent foreign policy events. This chapter attempts to trace these defenses in South Africa’s responses to criticism regarding its votes on UN Security Council Resolutions 1970, 1973 and 2059 concerning Libya and Syria, as well as the states withdrawal from the Rome Statute establishing the International Criminal Court. The chapter also looks at defenses observable in the state’s responses to xenophobic violence against African neighbors, demonstrating how these defenses help the state maintain a positive self-esteem.
