South Africa and the BRICs: A Crisis of Identity in Foreign Policy

This research paper examines South Africa's expected formal admission into the BRICs grouping in April 2011. The author questions the strategic motivation and economic utility of this membership, arguing that the BRICs lack a formal political or economic structure and that South Africa's economic goals can be better pursued through bilateral relations and a broader South-South strategy.

• The BRICs are described as an informal construct rather than a formal political or economic bloc, lacking coherent objectives. The author argues the category is problematic, noting the inclusion of a "failing Russian state" while excluding Turkey, which is described as a "resurgent geopolitical powerhouse".
• Internal cohesion within the BRICs is threatened by several factors, including competition between China and India, border disputes between Beijing and Delhi, and differing governance models, as Russia and China are not known for democratic practices compared to India, Brazil, and South Africa.
• The author contends that BRICs membership is not a necessary or effective tool for increasing trade and investment. Market access remains constrained by tariff barriers and restrictive regulations, and the BRICs compete with South Africa in the automotive, clothing, textiles, and steel sectors.
• South Africa's entry into the BRICs may conflict with its role in the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) Dialogue Forum. The author suggests that because both require extensive resources, the two entities are "essentially competing" and South Africa may not be able to sustain both in the long run.
• While diversifying export markets away from Europe—which takes 40% of South African exports—is a priority, the author argues that the BRICs should be part of a wider South-South strategy including Africa, the Middle East, and other Asian and Latin American countries, rather than the sole focus of foreign economic policy.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2011). South Africa and the BRICs: A Crisis of Identity in Foreign Policy. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-and-the-brics-a-crisis-of-identity-in-foreign-policy/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. South Africa and the BRICs: A Crisis of Identity in Foreign Policy. 2011. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-and-the-brics-a-crisis-of-identity-in-foreign-policy/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=South Africa and the BRICs: A Crisis of Identity in Foreign Policy |date=11 January 2011 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-and-the-brics-a-crisis-of-identity-in-foreign-policy/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2011south, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{South Africa and the BRICs: A Crisis of Identity in Foreign Policy}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2011}, month = jan, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-and-the-brics-a-crisis-of-identity-in-foreign-policy/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }