In general terms, South Africa has assumed a moral authority in Africa as a result of the successful transition that gives hope for transitions from authoritarianism to nascent democracy on the continent. It enables the international community to respond to African crises, such as Gen Sani Abacha's human rights violations in Nigeria, the war in Liberia and democratisation in Swaziland, by following the South African example. Another significant aspect of the new Constitution in an international context is the role of the Constitutional Court in the Constitution-making process and in Constitutional jurisprudence. Its judgments are internationally monitored and set precedents for issues such as capital punishment and abortion. The Bill of Rights in the interim and final Constitutions also received international attention.
Communities are particularly significant.
Finally, the inclusion of a section on international law in chapter 14 of the new Constitution is loaded with symbolism for the international community. For decades South Africa has been seen as a state that treated international norms and public law with contempt. Constitutional entrenchment of those principles is interpreted as a radical break with the past, and a commitment to accepting its role in the international community. The significance of the section on international law is that, for the first time, foreign relations and policy are subjected to parliamentary ratification. Hence, foreign policy is removed from the exclusive ambit of departmental decision-making into the sphere of parliamentary scrutiny.