Boulle, Laurence and Chella, Jessie (2014) Joining the BRICs: the case of South Africa. In: The Rise of the BRICS in the Global Political Economy: Changing Paradigms. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA, pp. 99-122. ISBN 978 1 78254 546 0
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Abstract
This book chapter explores the factors surrounding South Africa’s formal accession to BRICs membership and the ways in which it can become an active member of the grouping. On the face of it South Africa has little in common with the other BRICs countries in terms of economic size, demographic features, constitutional and political realities or geo-political significance. However consideration is given to three related factors which provided impetus for its membership: the ‘African renaissance’, the ‘first in Africa’ and the ‘gateway to Africa’ syndromes. The chapter then analyses, in the light of the republic’s relatively light-weight status in the BRICs, four ways of making an impact in the organisation in all of which it could exploit its ‘representative’ character. The first is in respect of agenda-setting in relation to key economic and political issues, the second is in relation to changing the prevailing discourse of the global political economy, the third is in relation to monitoring and supervisory functions and the fourth involves promoting good governance principles. In some respects these functions parallel South Africa’s potential roles in the larger G-20 group of nations. The chapter will finally reflect on issues of inclusiveness and exclusiveness in relation to how other countries might be nominated for and attain BRICS membership.
| Item Type: | Book Chapter |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | K Law > K Law (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Arts, Law and Education (FALE) > School of Law |
| Depositing User: | Jessie Chella |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Jan 2021 22:02 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jan 2021 22:02 |
| URI: | https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/12572 |
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