Policy Preferences for a Future Coalition Government - Foreign Policy
This report investigates support amongst registered voters towards varying foreign policy positions. It is the third of four reports that examine support amongst registered South African voters towards various policies that could be pursued by a future coalition government. The report is based on a survey of 1 835 demographically and geographically representative registered voters conducted by the Foundation during April of 2024. That survey had a margin of error of 2.2%. The way in which support or opposition to potential policies was tested was by putting a series of statements about opposing policies to survey respondents. The respondents were asked to say which of the opposing statements they agreed with and how strongly they agreed or disagreed.
With which of the following two statements do you agree: '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 aligns South Africa's foreign policy with the West, and against countries like Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia.'
First statement vs second statement
With which of the following two statements do you agree: '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.'
First statement vs second statement
TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS
The data shows that public opinion splits roughly 40/50 in favour of pro-Western alignment and that material benefits to the country outweigh ideological considerations by a considerable margin in the minds of voters. What that points to is that the global power blocs that tell the most compelling story about the benefit their ties bring to South Africa will win the battle for public opinion.
