SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The Oxford Zimbabwe Research Day in 2005 began with a debate between Hasu Patel and Stephen Chan, both academics with direct involvement in Zimbabwean diplomacy or Commonwealth diplomacy concerned with Zimbabwe. The two debated the pros and cons of Zimbabwean foreign policy, both in its original and more recent manifestations—and how the latter represents a domestic policy that is highly contentious. Hasu Patel began first; Stephen Chan replied; Professor Patel made a further intervention and Professor Chan made a final statement. Although their debate, or conversation, has been revised and rewritten for this issue, it remains faithful to the themes, structure and progress of debate of the original.