BRICS South Africa Comments on Global Western Powers: Navigating a Shifting World Order

The BRICS alliance, with South Africa as a key member, is increasingly reshaping global power dynamics, directly challenging the established dominance of the West. This shift is unfolding against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and the rise of South-South cooperation. While the Western powers condemned Russia's actions, South Africa, along with other BRICS nations, has often adopted a more nuanced stance, highlighting the complexities of international relations.

South Africa, once firmly oriented toward traditional western partners, is now forging stronger partnerships with Russia and China within the BRICS framework. This multilateral engagement is not without its challenges. Internally, BRICS faces its own struggles, requiring careful navigation of diverse national interests and priorities.

There was growing pressure on South Africa to speak out against Russia’s role in invading and waging war against Ukraine. However, South Africa's perspective reflects a broader sentiment in the global South, questioning the existing governance system established after the Second World War, which is centred around the US (and the US dollar). The BRICS expansion activities reflect these broader shifts, signaling the increasingly important role played by the global South in reshaping international norms – not merely as a passive observer, but as an active participant in shaping the future.

Understanding South Africa's role within BRICS requires a multifaceted approach. In this essay, I present three ways to analyse the BRICS: a top-down geopolitical perspective examining the power dynamics between BRICS and the West, a horizontal view of intra-BRICS relations exploring the complexities of cooperation and competition, and a bottom-up perspective focusing on the impact of BRICS initiatives on local communities.

The question remains: Will South-South cooperation within BRICS redefine alliances and lead to a more multipolar world, or will it deepen divisions and create new forms of global fragmentation? In this fragmented global landscape, South Africa's comments and actions regarding global Western powers are crucial indicators of the evolving international order.