Summary: The article first describes the emergence and contemporary practice of health diplomacy; this
is followed by a discussion of niche diplomacy, in particular as it applies to the foreign policy
agendas of emerging middle powers. It then reviews South African foreign policy and
diplomacy, before situating these policies within the context of emerging mechanisms of
south-south multilateralism. The article concludes by synthesizing these elements and
advocating for a South African AIDS diplomacy, emphasizing its potential to galvanize a
global project of emancipation.