Abstract
BRICS is a grouping of five major developing countries that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, all with the ambition of changing the governance architecture of international political-economy but with claims to speedy industrialization, fast growing economies and relatively strong regional and global influence. South Africa joined BRICS at the invitation of China in 2010 and has shown commitment to the group through friendly relations with other member countries. The country’s extensive economic links with China and the other BRICS states underpinned its strategy of diversifying its external trade especially with regard to looking away from West. This article employs content analysis to reflect on South Africa’s membership of BRICS, focusing specifically on the country’s relations with China. It argues that, while South Africa’s economic indicators do not fit well with the BRICS grouping, China is promoting this relationship in order to counter the West’s neo-imperialism and neo-liberal rhetoric. South Africa’s willingness to accept Chinese superiority in the African market and to act as a junior partner in the global power configuration makes the country the perfect choice for this project.
Highlights
BRICS is a grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, all of which are countries that are developing but with claims to speedy industrialization, fast growing economies and relatively strong regional and global influence
BRICS aims to create a forum that will enable the group and its members to play a bigger role in the international political economy
In order to do so, China is in search of reliable partners who are willing and able to stand firm in creating a parallel institution to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank
Summary
BRICS is a grouping that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, all of which are countries that are developing but with claims to speedy industrialization, fast growing economies and relatively strong regional and global influence. South Africa’s special relationship with China suggests that it regards China as an economic powerhouse that is much more attractive for bilateral trade than other African countries (Umezurike, 2016). A second factor advanced to legitimize South Africa’s membership is the symbolism of its sole representation of Africa in important multilateral forums In this regard, South Africa is the only African representative in the G20 and IBSA. In terms of progress towards development, democracy, constitutionalism, equal rights, women issues, economic empowerment and more, South Africa seem to represent the ideal of exceptionalism which other African countries aspire to It is on the basis of the above that South Africa is often bandied as gateway for investment into the untapped potential of African markets from the BRICS countries (Modi, 2012).
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