Book Review - South Africa and Security Building in the Indian Ocean Rim, Greg Mills, 1998

This review assesses Greg Mills’ work on South Africa’s role in security building across the Indian Ocean Rim. It summarizes the book’s argument that post-apartheid South Africa sought cooperative maritime security and commercial linkages as part of its reintegration into regional and global politics. The review highlights contributions on naval diplomacy, port development and minilateral forums, while noting the need for more granular treatment of capacity disparities among littoral states. It situates the book within contemporary debates on non-traditional security and Indian Ocean regionalism.

The review opens with context on South Africa’s strategic reorientation in the mid-1990s and the emergence of Indian Ocean Rim cooperation initiatives. Section One summarizes Mills’ thesis regarding maritime confidence-building and economic corridors. Section Two evaluates evidence on South Africa’s naval modernization, exercises and engagement with SADC and IORA. Section Three critiques gaps, including limited discussion of fisheries crime and environmental threats then gaining salience. Section Four reflects on policy relevance for Bangladesh and other SAARC members, drawing lessons on coast-guard cooperation, port governance and logistics. The review concludes that the volume offers a useful early mapping of Indian Ocean security community building, even as subsequent scholarship would expand the agenda to encompass blue-economy governance and climate resilience.