Internal and External Political Dynamics Influencing Lesotho’s Foreign Policy

Abstract

Due to the globalised nature of the world, the political foreign policies of landlocked states (LLS) have been affected, resulting in landlocked countries lagging behind their maritime neighbours in the overall development. Within the notion of landlocked states, it is important to note that there is a difference between states surrounded by the territory of only one other state, which can be defined as ‘enclaves’, and those that have several other states to engage with. The problems of enclaves are more delicate and serious than those of non-enclave LLS. Their mere economic existence, leading to political existence, may depend heavily upon the benevolence of their encircling neighbours.

The Kingdom of Lesotho is an enclave landlocked, independent parliamentary constitutional monarchy, entirely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. The tiny landlocked country, covering 30,355 square kilometres, has been subject to both internal and external political issues. Lesotho has had numerous forms of government, coups and internal political factions, which have hindered political development and stability. Detrimental to its economy, sovereignty and political power was the 1998 South African - Southern African Development Community (SADC) military intervention. The article explores these issues.