| Malawi is located in Southeastern Africa, it is a small landlocked country, with a large population. It is also a corridor between Eastern Africa and Southern Africa. Therefore, Malawi’s strategic position is very important. Lake Malawi is the third largest lake in Africa, it is located in Malawi. Malawi’s neighboring countries including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. As early as in the late sixteenth century, Malawi Kingdom was establishment in here and this kingdom is very famous in this region. From17th century to mid-19th century, this kingdom experienced its peak development, decline and extinction. In1891, British established colonial rule in here. After a long time of political evolution and struggling against colonialism, finally, Malawi gained independence in1964. British colonial rule brought some positive significance to Malawi, made it from a traditional society to a modern state. However, it also brought a grave disaster to this country, leaving the two core issues need to be resolved in a long term.First, the security issue. British colonial authorities designated the colonial boundaries, it has formed the modern national territory of Malawi. Meanwhile, the historical problems also led to Malawi’s territorial disputes with neighboring countries. It poses a serious threat to Malawi’s national security. In addition, the most important issue is that Malawi is lack of ports to the sea. Malawi’s cargoes need neighbouring country’s international ports to transport, including Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa. Therefore, Malawi’s diplomacy has been passive in a long term, national security is influenced by geopolitics.Second, the development issue. The British colonial authorities established national territory for Malawi, leading to the results of narrow land, poor resource, dense population, causing it has a heavy economic pressure and country is very poor. At the same time, the Britain forced to grow tobacco, tea, coffee, cotton and other economic crops in this country. Such a deformity of the economic system brought about many economic problems for Malawi. Among them, including reliance on international market heavily, vulnerable to the power’s economic press and so on. So far, the export of crops is still the main pillar of the economy and an important source of foreign exchange in this country. Therefore, poverty reduction and development is still the priority in this country.In1964, Malawi achieved national independence. Malawi’s diplomacy needs to solve two core issues, including security and development. The reason why the dissertation chose this small landlocked country "Malawi" as a case, and study on it’s foreign relations, it is because Malawi’s diplomacy has a great significance, including universality and particularity. First, universality. In Africa, apart from South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and several other "big country", almost all the countries are small country or weak country, they have a dilemma of "a small country has no diplomacy". As a small landlocked country, Malawi also has this problem, and it is more obvious. Second, particularity. In early post-independence period, Malawi pursues pro-western, pro-white diplomatic route and policy which is based on "realism". It is opposite from the "Pan-Africanism" diplomatic route which african countries and OAU pursue. Meanwhile, Malawi has a bad relationship with neighboring countries and OAU, it also hostile to the socialist countries and islamic countries. It is a extremely special case in entire african continent. Thus, a study on Malawi’s realism diplomatic, it’s significance is self-evident.In early post-independence period, facing the national conditions of security and development; the political situation of surrounding areas; and Cold War environment, Hastings Kamuzu Banda and his cabinet ministers had serious differences in their country’s diplomatic route and policy, and it was completely opposite. In fact, this political differences could be traced back to the British colonial period. At that time, in order to fight for national independence, Malawi’s political elites and Dr. Banda reached a compromise in this issue. After independence, the contradiction between them be triggered immediately.On the one hand, the cabinet ministers followed the political trend in africa, implemented the "Pan-Africanism" diplomatic route which is anti-colonialism and anti-racism; On the other hand, President Banda based on the analysis of the situation at home and abroad, and considerated the international political essence, pursued "realist" diplomatic route which is pro-western and pro-white racial regime. The conflict and game of the two diplomatic route, is the violent collision of ideal and reality, morality and interests. After political game of the "cabinet crisis", President Banda established his political dominance in Malawi. Malawi implemented the "realist" diplomatic route and policy, until the coming of democratization era.During the Cold War, colonialism, racism, socialism, capitalism, etc. presented in Southern Africa, international relations in this region is extremely complex. President Banda has studied and lived in the US and Britain in his early years, he had a deep understanding of international politics. He analysised Malawi’s national conditions, regional and international environment, finally set up a "realism" diplomatic route and policy. This diplomatic route was quite different from other african countries. It aims to gain national interests as more as possible, rather than acquired reputation or morals by following "Pan-Africanism". During the Cold War, President Banda shuttled and taked a free ride among various political forces in the Southern African region, He gained a lot of national interest for Malawi.Although President Banda was often been accused and abused by other leaders of African countries, he was a excellent politician. Through "realism" diplomacy, he made Malawi’s small country diplomacy to the limit. Faced with the problem of racism in the region, he opposed the sanctions which had no effects, and proposed a realistic problem-solving concept of "contact plus negotiations". Malawi was a "buffer zone" among all kinds of political force in this area, it’s "realist" diplomatic policy was not static, but according to the changes in the regional and international situation, adjusted at any time in flexible and pragmatic. So that, some leaders of African countries believed that President Banda was a "freak", Malawi’s diplomatic policy couldn’t be understand, and it was inconsistent.In the1980s, regional and international situation has undergone many changes. Malawi diplomacy was into a trouble, beared a great pressure by western countries. At this time, the political situation in Southern Africa emergenced a new trend, economic cooperation has become the main trend. Thus, Malawi adjusted it’s "realist" foreign policy, made efforts to improve its relations with neighboring countries, returned to the embrace of OAU and African countries, strengthened economic cooperation with neighboring countries, participated in the create work of "SADCC" and "PTA". At the same time, maintained the partnership of a large country "South Africa" in this region, in order to safeguard it’s national interests.In1994, Malawi entered the era of political democratization. In this period, diplomacy is no longer the president’s personal work, but to be constrained by various factors. Among them, including democracy, regionalism, globalization and other internal and external factors. Meanwhile, the diplomatic policy of every government was not same, and it’s cyclical changes shorten. In democratization era, non-traditional security threats have begun to increase. The problems which Malawi diplomacy confront is becoming more complex. Faced with the problem of survival and development, Malawi is maintaining the traditional relations with the western countries, and paying attention to economic cooperation with China, India, Russia and other emerging economies. To further develop the country’s diplomatic resources, it can take advantage of democracy, Islam, crops, tourism culture, labor, market and other factors. It should actively promote the diversification of their diplomatic channels, and attract more national interests.This dissertation is a half century diplomatic history of Southern African country of "Malawi", and is also a history of international relations of Southern Africa from the perspective of Malawi’s diplomacy. Through this thesis, it aims to have a deep understanding of Malawi’s diplomacy and Southern African international relations, also aims to give some references and thinking to diplomacy of other African countries. |
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