From Theory to Culture: Emergent South African Strategic Culture
Authors
Francois Vreÿ
Abstract
Within the field of Security Studies, strategic culture is no longer the sole domain of major powers as smaller and middle powers are receiving increasing attention and entering the debate on this important phenomenon. Although acknowledged as a difficult topic within the field of Security Studies and its interface with Strategic Studies, theoretical progress on strategic culture nonetheless comprises three distinct waves. These waves are buffeted between ideas on little (if any) scope for change and viewpoints of more scope for change than depicted by earlier thought. Nonetheless, no real consensus exists and the theoretical landscape is characterised by a multitude of different opinions. Although literature on this topic extends into the 21st century, strategic culture remains unexplored in South African academic literature on security and strategy. However, drawing upon third-generation theory, shifts in the practice of South African strategic culture come into focus. These shifts offer some insights into particular South African practices, but these preferences remain vulnerable to the declaratory-operational void posited by second-generation theory. It appears that progress in cultivating or even imposing a different South African strategic culture through changes in political culture, foreign policy and defence, is hampered by the operation of inconsistency and norm stretching.
Author Biography
Francois Vreÿ
Dr Vreÿ holds a doctorate from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, on alternative military futures – a qualification he completed with the Institute for Futures Research located at Stellenbosch University Business School. He has published in academic journals in South Africa and abroad; and contributes on a regular basis to Capetonian and national newspapers, and does radio interviews on contemporary strategic and military issues. He presented several national and international conference papers – the latest being a forthcoming paper on strategic culture at the RMC Kingston, Canada during March 2007. He teaches under- and post-graduate courses in the Faculty of Military Science of Stellenbosch University and lectures to senior officers and government officials attending the Executive National Security Programme at the SA National Defence College on defence policy and strategy. Dr Vreÿ is the editor of the academic journal Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. His research interests centres on military change, future warfare and strategic culture.
