| Summary: | The significant role of multinational corporations (MNCs) in the international political
economy necessitates innovative ways to study their activities and relationships with
states. This study, therefore, analyses the foreign policy of the South African
government in Africa during President Thabo Mbeki’s administration – 1999 to 2008
– juxtaposed with the corporate diplomatic strategies of selected retail MNCs. The
MNCs – Shoprite Holdings Limited, Massmart Holdings Limited, Woolworths
Holdings Limited and Pick n Pay Holdings Limited – are treated as actors.
The study uncovers the nature and extent of coalescences and divergences of
strategies between the government and the MNCs. It also finds divergences
between government’s policy pronouncements and interests. For example, the
government’s plan to craft a code of good business practice is found to be in
conflicts with its support for multilateralism. The study lays the basis for a new
model to study diplomatic strategies of firms and governments. === Political Sciences === M.A. (International Politics)
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