The rise and decline of the Front Line States (FLS) alliance in Southern Africa: 1975-1990

The Front Line States (FLS) alliance arose out of the Southern African colonial conflict to become one of the most important actors in regional conflict, conflict resolution and regional co-operation. The alliance expanded its membership in number from the original three (Botswana, Tanzania and Zambia) to seven (to include Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe and Namibia, in that order), as well as in scope of responsibilities. The liberation of Namibia, majority rule in South Africa and the fight against destabilisation became part of the alliance's agenda after Zimbabwe's independence in 1980.;Using regionalism as the main approach--with regional security, general theories of international politics and political economy as its variants--it is argued that the alliance has experienced both rise (1975-1980) and decline (from 1980 onwards). In the first period it was becoming increasingly significant. However, in the second, external and internal factors set in motion the process of decline, especially in the 1980s. The latter process has been slow and has mainly been influenced by changes internal to member countries as well as at regional and global levels. Despite such decline, the members of the Front Line States alliance have significantly contributed to the change of the status quo in Southern Africa. Arguably, the region would have been different without this alliance in terms of economic, political and social development.