South African in the international Arms Trade Network (ATN) during ANC rule (1994-present): A network analysis

Authors

  • Burgert A. Senekal University of the Free State
  • Jan-Ad Stemmet University of the Free State
  • Karlien Stemmet University of the Free State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38140/sjch.v40i1.302

Keywords:

Arms trade, Complex networks, Trade networks, Social Network Analysis, SNA

Abstract

Network theory has become a key theoretical framework with which to study complex systems, and a large number of studies have investigated the structure of the World Trade Network (WTN) within this paradigm. This article follows Åkerman and Larsson?Seim (2014) in investigating South Africa’s position in the international Arms Trade Network (ATN) from 1994 to the present within the framework of network theory and by using data provided by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Using centrality measures such as degree, betweenness, closeness, and in? and out?degree, the article shows that South Africa is a relatively important role player in this trade network, and specifically as an arms exporter. It is also discussed how South Africa’s position changed under the leadership of consecutive presidents, and it is shown that the country became more active during the presidencies of Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma than it was under Nelson Mandela.

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Published

2015-06-30

How to Cite

Senekal, B. A., Stemmet, J.-A., & Stemmet, K. (2015). South African in the international Arms Trade Network (ATN) during ANC rule (1994-present): A network analysis. Southern Journal for Contemporary History, 40(1), 23–40. https://doi.org/10.38140/sjch.v40i1.302

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