Britain and Southern Africa: A 'third way' or business as usual?

This chapter focuses on New Labour’s attempts to implement the idea of a ‘third way’ in relation to southern Africa. The extent to which the ‘third way’ has occasioned a substantial change in Britain’s relationship with Africa thus becomes an important question. The debate about how Britain should seek to balance the traditional goals of foreign policy with an ‘ethical dimension’ was initiated by the Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, only ten days into New Labour’s term in office. Britain’s stance on the arms industry illustrates the difficulties involved in trying to implement an ethical foreign policy. Britain has one of the largest arms industries in the world, employing some four hundred thousand people across the country. Britain’s strategy for encouraging economic growth includes three main elements: the promotion of free and fair trade; the reduction of debt; and the enlargement and refocusing of the development aid programme.