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Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the relationship between India and South Africa, attempting to draw conclusions about whether friendship between states is possible.

Paper long abstract:

Politicians on both sides regularly refer to the special and unique relationship that exists between India and South Africa. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki, for example, spoke of South Africa's "bonds of friendship with India, which is, to us, not only a genuine strategic partner, but also a second home [to] all our people" (Mbeki, 2006).

The notion of friendship is one that has intrigued philosophers for centuries, but has remained largely outside the analytical focus of International Relations (IR). In fact, friendship is generally regarded as essentially alien to international politics. Many IR scholars would have us believe that states all behave indiscriminately similarly towards each other in their quest for survival and national security. Over the past few years, attempts have been made by a handful of scholars to address this shortcoming - a special issue of Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, 2007 that focuses on friendship as an important dimension of politics is a case in point.

Building on this work, and based on a constructivist understanding of the importance of ideas and the notion that identity shapes interests, this paper explores the relationship between India and South Africa, focusing in particular on the impact this has on their respective foreign policies. By unpacking the historical relationship between the two countries, it attempts to draw conclusions about whether friendship between states is a reality or a pipedream.