Black South Africans' Public Opinion on Foreign Policy
This report investigates the foreign policy preferences of registered black South African voters. It does so via two different questions about whether South Africa should align with the West or Russia, China and Saudi Arabia and whether South Africa should create foreign policy based on economic benefit to the country or on shared ideologies. The questions were posed in terms of a 'future coalition' in April of 2024. The Foundation would suggest that these preferences can now be translated into policy preferences for the current coalition government (Government of National Unity) that governs South Africa. The data in the report is drawn from a survey of 1 835 demographically and geographically representative registered voters conducted in April 2024. That survey had a margin of error of 6% for black South Africans.
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government aligns South Africa's foreign policy with countries like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia, and against the West.' OR 'A future coalition government align South Africa's foreign policy with the West, and against countries like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia.'
Black South Africans by age
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government aligns South Africa's foreign policy with countries like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia, and against the West.' OR 'A future coalition government align South Africa's foreign policy with the West, and against countries like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia.'
Black South Africans by education
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government aligns South Africa's foreign policy with countries like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia, and against the West.' OR 'A future coalition government align South Africa's foreign policy with the West, and against countries like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia.'
Black South Africans by party affiliation
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government puts the potential economic benefits for South Africans first, when deciding which countries to align with, when it comes to foreign policy and international relations.' OR 'A future coalition government puts ideology and loyalty to the liberation first, when deciding which countries to align with, when it comes to foreign policy and international relations.'
Black South Africans by age
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government puts the potential economic benefits for South Africans first, when deciding which countries to align with, when it comes to foreign policy and international relations.' OR 'A future coalition government puts ideology and loyalty to the liberation first, when deciding which countries to align with, when it comes to foreign policy and international relations.'
Black South Africans by education
Which statement do you agree with: 'A future coalition government puts the potential economic benefits for South Africans first, when deciding which countries to align with, when it comes to foreign policy and international relations.' OR 'A future coalition government puts ideology and loyalty to the liberation first, when deciding which countries to align with, when it comes to foreign policy and international relations.'
Black South Africans by party affiliation
TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS
The data reveals that black South Africans are split almost 50/50 on both the question of whether South Africa should align its foreign policy with the West or Russia and China and on the question of whether economic benefit or ideology should be the driver of South African foreign policy. There are cleavages across lines of age, education and party affiliation. The data demonstrates that black South Africans' public opinion on foreign policy can be swayed by whichever global power bloc provides the most compelling argumentation as to the benefits of aligning with them.
