Summit Dialogue S2, Ep 5: Sidiropoulos on the Future of South Africa and its Leadership

It is with great pleasure that I have invited Elizabeth Sidiropoulos into the Virtual Studio for this episode of ‘Summit Dialogue’. With South Africa’s national and provincial elections just concluded and with South Africa about to take the Presidency of the G20 after the conclusion of Brazil’s hosting it seemed like an opportune moment to speak with Elizabeth about South Africa’s future and its leadership of the Informals, especially the G20. Elizabeth is the chief executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), an independent foreign policy think-tank based in Johannesburg. She holds an MA in International Relations (cum laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She has headed the Institute since 2005. Elizabeth is also the editor-in-chief of the South African Journal of International Affairs. Elizabeth has co-edited a volume: Values, Interests and Power: South African Foreign Policy in Uncertain Times (2020), She has also co-edited two books exploring the rise of the new development cooperation providers. Her research focus is South Africa’s foreign policy, global governance and the role of emerging powers in Africa. Most recently she has focused on Russia’s renewed presence in Africa, against the background of SA’s membership of the BRICS grouping. So, let’s join Elizabeth in the Virtual Studio to examine South Africa’s future.