PAS WORKING PAPER 2019 | VOLUME 1 NO. 1 1 The Perils of Megaphone Diplomacy: Malawian-MozambicanPAS Relations WORKING Following The Shire-Zambezi WaterwayPAPER Project Department of Political and Administrative Studies (PAS), Chancellor College September 2019 Volume 1 No. 1 The Perils of Megaphone Diplomacy: Malawian-Mozambican Relations Following The Shire-Zambezi Waterway Project Authors Introduction Malawi – one of the poorest countries in the world – is landlocked, Happy Kayuni a status that places a huge burden on its economy and renders Professor, Department of most of its exports uncompetitive. Landlocked countries rely on Political and Administrative rail and road transportation, which in turn result in high costs. Studies (PAS), Chancellor College, Most transportation of goods in Malawi is undertaken by road, University of Malawi. and compared to other developing countries, its percentage of transportation costs to total production costs is extremely high (Afdb 2011). Indeed, Malawi’s transport costs alone are among Dan Banik the highest on the continent, which in turn increase the cost of consumer imports (UNECA 2016: 179). Such costs are further Professor, University of Oslo’s exacerbated by the rising cost of fuel and hence there is a Centre for Development and constant desire in political and administrative circles to initiate Environment (SUM). projects that reduce transportation costs. The landlocked geo-political situation has been a dominating Joseph Chunga theme that has influenced Malawi’s foreign policy since Lecturer, and Reseach Fellow at independence in 1964. Apart from surrounding Malawi and the Centre for Social Research of sharing large parts of its borders, Mozambique also offers the the University of Malawi. closest port city available for Malawian trade and commerce. For purposes of trade, Malawi uses four so-called corridors – Dar es Salaam, Beira, Nacala and Durban – three of which pass through PAS WORKING PAPER 2019 | VOLUME 1 NO. 1 2 The Perils of Megaphone Diplomacy: Malawian-Mozambican Relations Following The Shire-Zambezi Waterway Project Mozambique. Since its independence, however, megaphone diplomacy in relation to the Shire- Malawi’s diplomatic relations with Mozambique Zambezi Waterway project and the extent to have not been harmonious. Indeed, Malawi’s which it resulted in a clash of national interests. quest to deal with its geo-political disadvantage In the concluding section, we offer some of being landlocked often appears to collide with overarching conclusions of our study while also Mozambique’s national interests. briefly discussing the current status of the project and its future viability. This article critically discusses a recent and highly controversial effort undertaken by Malawi Diplomacy and International to improve its geo-political position under the umbrella of the Shire-Zambezi Waterway Relations project. The main goal of the project was to provide Malawi with access to the Indian ocean Modern-day diplomacy may be traced back to through Mozambique’s port city of Chinde. the era of the French Revolution when early Despite its significance, this case has surprisingly forms of the modern state emerged (Scott 2011). not attracted much scholarly attention. We Scholars have offered various definitions of argue that despite making economic sense, the diplomacy, although certain salient features ‘megaphone diplomacy’ that – such as “negotiation” among the former Malawian president “This article critically states and the “pursuit of peace” pursued with Mozambique discusses a recent and – are frequently highlighted in resulted in the failure of the the literature. In practice, there is highly controversial a strong link between diplomacy project. Indeed, the Malawian effort undertaken by president appeared to overlook and foreign policy. Consequently, the socio-political interests of Malawi to improve its the term ‘diplomacy’ has often Mozambique. And rather than geo-political position been used as a “synonym for using more established and under the umbrella foreign policy” or specifically, sombre diplomatic approaches, of the Shire-Zambezi diplomacy may refer to one of the the tactics used by Malawi Waterway project. The tools for the implementation of a angered the Mozambicans. main goal of the project foreign policy (Lee and Hocking 2011: 1). For example, Stanzel Despite the popularity of concepts was to provide Malawi such as ‘globalization’, ‘regional (2018: 7) defines diplomacy with access to the as “a pragmatic approach to integration’ and ‘partnerships’, Indian ocean through we demonstrate how the national manage the relations between interest continues to reign Mozambique’s port city states and other institutions in supreme in diplomacy. We argue of Chinde.” the intergovernmental space with that since Malawi was operating the aim of arriving at peaceful from a position of low power, conflict resolutions”. Lee and the Malawian President’s use of megaphone Hocking (2011: 1) claim that “in its broadest diplomacy was not an ideal option. Indeed, we sense, diplomacy refers to the conduct of find that the megaphone strategy can be a useful human affairs by peaceful means, employing tool when the one initiating it has comparatively techniques of persuasion and negotiation”. more power and influence. Our methodological Sharp (2009) argues that while diplomacy does approach builds on a range of sources. We not normally feature highly in everyday life, it conducted an extensive literature review of assumes greater importance when something available academic texts, media reports and goes wrong in international politics. Stanzel institutional reports. These were supplemented by (2018) offers a different perspective, arguing a few interviews with key informants conducted that the contemporary general public is getting in 2018-2019. increasingly interested in the work of diplomats and (using mostly civil society organizations) are This article is divided into four parts. We begin often seeking ways to influence the process. with a theoretical background on diplomacy in international relations followed by a discussion Foreign policy can generally be described as a on Malawi’s geographical status and its historical strategy, which reflects a state’s own goals and influence on the country’s diplomatic strategy. objectives or interests in the international arena The third section discusses the impact of as well as specific actions undertaken to achieve PAS WORKING PAPER 2019 | VOLUME 1 NO. 1 The Perils of Megaphone Diplomacy: Malawian-Mozambican Relations Following The Shire-Zambezi Waterway Project 3 those goals. At the centre of foreign policy is the Megaphone diplomacy concept of “national interest”, whose definition varies, depending on actors involved. As Alden Megaphone diplomacy is generally understood and Aran (2017) put it, national interest can as an activity in which political leaders or simply be defined as “attainment of power”, policy makers use the mass media to indirectly whether economic, military or cultural. convey their message to the other party in a conflict when it has been deemed as practically Among the dominant theories in the field of impossible or simply not desirable to do so international relations are realism and liberalism. directly. According to Ruhlig (2018: 12), Prominent realists such as Edward megaphone diplomacy consists Carr, Hans Morgenthau and “Some claim that of “government representatives Kenneth Waltz argue that states megaphone diplomacy making public statements on are, more often than not, focused is the “antithesis of sensitive … issues”. Others on their own survival and hence diplomacy” (Robert believe that that megaphone pursue foreign policies that diplomacy “involves presenting 2009: 9) and that it is information to journalists in protect their national interest. And often not an appropriate since states cannot simply protect newsworthy formats and hoping approach to pursue for their interests and survive without it will be picked up and reach the power, the international arena is several reasons. For other side, as the sender of the fraught with activities aimed at example, megaphone message has relinquished all overt acquiring and consolidating such diplomacy is a product control over the way the message power. By contrast proponents of the need of political is communicated” (Sparre 2001: 89-90). In addition to these of liberalism (or idealism) argue leaders, for domestic political purposes, “to perspectives, we go a step further that states are generally good and and add an additional element tend to seek cooperation. Thus, talk toughly and often to the definition. We suggest Wight (in Sharp 2009: 8) claims roughly even when it will that megaphone diplomacy is that idealism “presents the world damage their longer term a diplomatic strategy in which in terms of interests and power aims” country ‘A’ deliberately makes … how to survive and prosper decisions that may ultimately in it … Its focus is on exploring affect country ‘B’, but country attempts to reform and improve international ‘B’ is bypassed or nominally involved so that relations by the application of reason to the eventually country ‘B’ is forced to adopt the problems”. Although Sharp (2009) argues that decision made by country ‘A’. diplomacy and diplomats are typically guided by almost all applicable theories of international Some claim that megaphone diplomacy is the relations, Alden and Aran (2017) claim that “antithesis of diplomacy” (Robert 2009: 9) and realism