Mills Soko and Mzukisi Qobo’s article: ‘Creating more walls than Brics” (January 7) argues that South Africa’s invitation to join what they regard as an ‘amorphous entity” is ‘an affront to the country’s foreign policy”. This is not helpful.
The invitation to join the group of Brazil, Russia, India and China (or Bric) and its acceptance is, primarily, a political issue and offers South Africa a fresh opportunity to engage with new global realities. The political potential is based on strategic considerations, given the clear indication that the Brics will become a political force.
Brazil and Russia welcomed China’s decision to invite South Africa into the group, because of the country’s political significance. Brazil is of the view that South Africa, as a Bric member, will make an important contribution to the group on the basis of its ‘economic relevance” and its ‘constructive political action” globally.
It ‘will expand the geographic representation” of the group at a time when it is striving to reform the multilateral financial system and its institutions, as well as to democratise global governance. For Russia, Bric membership of South Africa as a ‘leading African country” is in line with the emerging ‘polycentric international system”.
Such statements indicate that Bric is bound to move towards a common position on global issues. This will have serious implications for the global strategy of the United States and its strategic allies, particularly in Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Brazil, China and Russia have already played important roles in attempts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and tensions in the Middle East and on the Korean peninsula. Bric is bound, together with South Africa as an organisational colleague, to increase its collective voice in international relations.
What is of crucial political importance is that all Bric members will serve as members of the UN Security Council in 2011 and 2012, with China and Russia continuing as permanent members, and Brazil, India and South Africa as non-permanent members. This will enhance their efforts to advance their common interests and those of the South in general.
Contrary to Soko and Qobo’s views, South Africa’s engagement with other Bric members will be informed by national needs and fundamental interests. As a Bric member, South Africa will be able to provide practical, progressive ideas on key global governance and democracy issues, to demonstrate its leadership in conflict resolution, peace and security, as well as in reconstruction and development. Its Bric membership is a welcome addition to its arsenal of diplomatic weapons.
Dr Sehlare Makgetlaneng is chief research specialist and head of the governance and democracy research programme at the Africa Institute of South Africa in Pretoria.