''An approach to regional neoliberal governance in southern Africa in a critical perspective.''In order to examine the possible implications of neoliberalism in contemporary Africa, an analysis based on a regional dimension is important. The multiplicity of strategies and methods of governance in a specific regional context can appear as a fusion, a mixture or even a conflict, since regions can be understood as political and social projects, where different actors act in favor of maintaining, the protection or transformation of dominant structures. In this way, according to Söderbaum, “regions can be disrupted from within and without by the same forces that built them.” (Söderbaum 2004a, p. 421). The process of economic globalization and the impact of neoliberalism in the contemporary world have affected the context in which regionalism/regionalization occurs, with new balances and relationships and “consequent implications for the political economy of regionalism” (Söderbaum 2004b , p.17). ).The new regionalist movement presents itself as a response to the challenges posed by transnational actors and those posed to the nation-state. Furthermore, it appears as an attempt to focus researchers' attention on non-state actors and informal procedures (Acharya 2012, p. 9). Furthermore, critical theories can be a useful tool for our understanding of structural and social changes and transformations. Following this line, a critical approach to international political economy, which moves away from state centrism and towards an examination of the “state-society complex” (Söderbaum 2004a, p. 419), can be used to examine the expansion of neoliberal policies. and its consequences in South Africa and the wider southern region...... middle of document ...... be seen as bottom-up rather than bottom-up. Who is the time for? » International Spectator, Vol 47, Issue 1, pp: 3-15. Alden, C. and Le Pere, G., 2009. “South Africa in Africa: Doomed to Lead? », Politikon, 36(1): 145- 169. Alden, C. and Soko, M., 2005. South Africa's economic relations with Africa: hegemony and its discontents”, Journal of Modern African Studies, 43(3): 367-392. Söderbaum, Fredrik, 2004a 'Modes of regional governance in Africa: neoliberalism, sovereignty strengthening and shadow networks', Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations, Vol. 10, n° 4 (November), pp 419-436. Söderbaum, Fredrik (2004b) The political economy of regionalism. The case of southern Africa. Chapter 4: “The historical construction of southern Africa’ ”.