International Law in the New World Order: A BRICS Paradigm Shift Towards Post-Internationalism and Heterarchy

The document argues that the BRICS bloc is challenging the Western-dominated unipolar world order by promoting multilateralism and 'soft power' to enhance the influence of the Global South. Using the framework of postinternationalism and heterarchy, the author analyzes how BRICS states leverage international institutions to reposition themselves as moral and responsible global actors. A primary example provided is South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which the author describes as a strategic use of international law to test the unipolar system and extend South Africa's legitimacy beyond the African continent. However, the paper also notes inconsistencies within the bloc, specifically citing the silence of BRICS members regarding the Russia-Ukraine war as evidence that national interests often override stated principles of international law.

• The BRICS bloc seeks to replace the unipolar global system, dominated by the USA and European nations, with a multipolar alternative that prioritizes the role of emerging economies and the Global South in trade, infrastructure, and security.
• The author applies the theories of postinternationalism—which emphasizes the role of non-state actors and globalization over state-centric IR theories—and heterarchy, defined as the coexistence and conflict between overlapping 'micro- and meso- quasi-hierarchies', to explain the current volatility of world politics.
• South Africa's legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is presented as a strategic application of 'soft power' and a test of the UN's unipolar system, allowing South Africa to project itself as a 'moral and responsible' actor globally.
• Despite its claims of adhering to international law and multilateralism, the BRICS bloc exhibits inconsistency and hypocrisy, particularly regarding the Russia-Ukraine war and South Africa's non-alignment with the UN resolution on the conflict.

APA

Mathebula, N. (2024). International Law in the New World Order: A BRICS Paradigm Shift Towards Post-Internationalism and Heterarchy. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/international-law-in-the-new-world-order-a-brics-paradigm-shift-towards-post-internationalism-and-heterarchy

Chicago

Mathebula, Ndzalama. International Law in the New World Order: A BRICS Paradigm Shift Towards Post-Internationalism and Heterarchy. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2024. https://afripoli.org/international-law-in-the-new-world-order-a-brics-paradigm-shift-towards-post-internationalism-and-heterarchy.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mathebula |first1=Ndzalama |title=International Law in the New World Order: A BRICS Paradigm Shift Towards Post-Internationalism and Heterarchy |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=28 October 2024 |url=https://afripoli.org/international-law-in-the-new-world-order-a-brics-paradigm-shift-towards-post-internationalism-and-heterarchy |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mathebula2024international, author = {Mathebula, Ndzalama}, title = {{International Law in the New World Order: A BRICS Paradigm Shift Towards Post-Internationalism and Heterarchy}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2024}, month = oct, url = {https://afripoli.org/international-law-in-the-new-world-order-a-brics-paradigm-shift-towards-post-internationalism-and-heterarchy}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }