South Africa, BRICS and South-South Cooperation

Jaime Forero Núñez’s paper offers a comprehensive analysis of South Africa’s integration into the BRICS and its impact in the framework of South-South cooperation. From a historical, economic and political perspective, this paper evaluates the advantages and disadvantages that South Africa has experienced since its accession to the group in 2011, stopping to assess the main changes in the country’s foreign policy.

The author discusses how, following the democratic transition in 1994, South Africa adopted a foreign policy geared towards cooperation among countries in the global South to combat underdevelopment and economic dependence. However, its limitations in size and wealth led the country to seek greater global influence through its inclusion in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and, later, South Africa). This bloc shares objectives such as reforming global governance and reducing Western hegemony, although, as the author points out, it does not always operate under the principles of South-South cooperation.

The analysis details the benefits that South Africa has obtained from its membership in the group, such as the strengthening of its capacity to raise international demands and its access to new investments. However, it also highlights the growing economic asymmetry and the hegemony of China within the BRICS, which has generated dependency dynamics and difficulties for South African companies in international markets. Furthermore, he questions whether the bloc really favors balanced development or simply replicates traditional power logics under a new structure led by emerging countries.

In his paper, J. Forero raises critical questions about the future of the BRICS and the effectiveness of their approach to South-South cooperation, highlighting the need for internal reforms to ensure greater equity and sustainability in their economic and political relations.