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383 CHAPTER 21 Building the BRICS of a New Global System: Cape to Cairo – South Africa’s Search for Strategic Depth within BRICS Dianna Games INTRODUCTION T he accession of South Africa to the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) group of countries in 2010, after concerted lobbying by the administration of President Jacob Zuma, raised some eyebrows in the international community. Critics pointed to the country’s relatively small size and particularly its low growth rates compared to its counterparts in the bloc. But the country’s dogged pursuit of an invitation to become a member highlighted South Africa’s longstanding desire to box above its weight in global affairs and further illustrated the country’s determination to be part of shaping a new global order. Its role in the BRICS was cemented by the country’s hosting of the 2013 summit in Durban. The success of the event, and discussion about tangible outcomes for the bloc of diverse nations, seems to have tempered the criticism of those who believed South Africa was not a good fit with the BRIC nations based on its lesser economic fundamentals, low population and relative lack of global influence. But South Africa has sold its case as being a catalyst for BRICS engagement with Africa as whole rather than simply acting alone as one nation. This has found acceptance with other members of the bloc, who see the real benefit of South Africa’s inclusion being its perceived role as a strategic player on a continent in which they have a vested interest. South Africa has previously been singled out by other international forums, such as the G20, to represent and even speak for Africa. Some new entrants believe that it provides an entry point into the region. But if it is truly to represent Africa in BRICS or any other bloc, a key issue is the country’s weight and influence within Africa and its credibility and acceptance among other Africans as their representative in forums outside the continent. For it to be of real value to the BRICS and others, South Africa 384 CHAPTER 21 needs the appropriate strategic depth within Africa to effectively play the role that global economic powers believe it has. South Africa’s promise to use its BRICS membership for the betterment of the continent could be seen as a genuine attempt to develop the continent, which is in the country’s own national interest, or cynically as a way of gaining a leadership role accepted by Africans, which it so badly wants. At the Durban summit, the country delivered on its promise to include African priorities in its deliberations. It highlighted the continent’s needs to the distinguished participants, getting them to back infrastructure investment and faster regional integration. It hosted a retreat on the sidelines of the event to allow discussion between the BRICS leaders and influential African leaders and suggested that the proposed BRICS development bank would be a vehicle for African development, among other things. There is no formal link between the continent’s regional body, the African Union, and the BRICS, but South Africa appears to be using its own AU roles to build links between the two. In fact, membership of the BRICS appears to have been the catalyst for South Africa to fight for the African leadership role within Africa that many outside Africa have mistakenly presumed it had all along. While the country has had some success in solving political conflicts on the continent, it has not, until recently, used its political and economic leverage within Africa sufficiently – and strategically – to position itself as the leading power on the continent. It has failed to balance its continental interests with its quest for advantage in developed economies and nonAfrican emerging markets. South Africa has also been tardy in dealing with issues that have affected its relationships with other powerful states in Africa such as Angola and Nigeria, preferring to focus on trade arrangements with developed states and blocs such as the European Union and China in line with its export profile. Despite its economic weight on the continent, South Africa is not regarded by many Africans themselves as the representative, or ‘leader’, of Africa. This is based on many factors – e.g. envy; a view that the country is naive in issues of global diplomacy; the fact that it seeks to dominate the continent economically; and its perceived sense of ‘exceptionalism,’ seeing itself as morally and economically superior. There is...

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