How do other countries view South Africa now, compared with how they viewed it in the past?

This is a complicated matter. The answer depends upon the particular country and, moreover, who is making the assessment. In some nations, the general thought is that South Africa serves as the model of a nation that overcame - rather quickly - its racist and fascist leadership. Other nations - especially those in Western Europe - feel that South Africa, as a nation, still has plenty of strides to make toward racial equality and, moreover, making reparations for past injustices.