Africa's BEATING DRUM - BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW - National Institute for the Humanities and ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
ISSUE 01 • 2018
BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW
Tapping into
Africa’s
BEATING DRUM
Language and Deconolising Profile: City of Joburg
BRICS 2018 THEME: ENVISIONING INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A SOCIALLY RESPONSIVE ECONOMY
ED’S
NOTE
Do we need
another BRICS
publication?
I WAS ASKED THIS QUESTION when he said: “Media as a carrier of Where? When? and Why?
DURING CONVERSATIONS information, communication and a We also ask So What?
WITH MEDIA COLLEAGUES AND messenger for cultural exchanges plays It is also important to mention that
POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTORS. IT IS A an irreplaceable role in deepening in a world where editorial integrity has
GOOD QUESTION TO ASK. cooperation among the countries.” fallen prey to advertising dollars, at BAR
BRICS Media has come a long way we strive to conform to strict standards of
If we’re asking, “Do we need since the first media forum in 2015, at scholarship and editorial excellence, because
I another BRICS publication?”
then presumably, we’re tired
which journalists were encouraged to
report only stories that were positive, to
the publication has been commissioned by
the National Institute for the Humanities
of the coverage we’re seeing already. Just counter the negative publicity from a hostile and Social Sciences, the custodian of the
how much current media on BRICS is Western media determined to see BRICS South African BRICS Think Tank.
there, though? flounder before it could be established as As a member of the BRICS
A quick cursory search of BRICS a stable alternative economic grouping. community, we would like you to be
on the internet reveals results that are Indeed, this “report only good” stance included in the process of developing
sadly outdated; there is very little current made sense at the early stages of BRICS, content for this publication, and thus we
information on BRICS due to lack of
input on the subject matter.
Unfortunately, this means that not a
lot of people are having a conversation This publication analyses this information
about BRICS – or if they are, those
conversations are all happening behind beyond positive reporting, answering the
closed doors. And even if they are, that is
not an encouraging idea. five W’s: What? Who? Where? When? and
Lack of transparency has been one of
the criticisms in the way the development Why? We also ask So What?
of BRICS is reported to the masses. This
leaves the door open to speculation, a lack
of confidence and negative reporting. It
would be just plain irresponsible if we when it was vying for position in the global encourage you to feel free to share your
were passive about the role of media in geopolitical space. input on one of these platforms:
influencing opinions. But what about now? As BRICS enters Email: bar.editor@nihss.ac.za
We need to accept that the latest its second decade, we have an opportunity Twitter: @BRICSAcademicRe
information about BRICS needs to be review the road travelled; to reflect and Facebook: @BRICSAcademicReview
made available to the public frequently, to propose how BRICS can enter this second
stimulate collaboration and cooperation decade in a way that has the most positive It is our hope that your input will
between these five nations with huge impact on its citizens – the most populous contribute towards strengthening the voice
economic, cultural and political differences. and economically significant of any current of BRICS in the global media space. To
This point was expressed very clearly global economic grouping. answer the question at the start of this note:
by Cai Mingzhao, president of China’s This publication analyses this Yes, we most certainly do!
Xinhua News Agency and executive information beyond positive reporting,
chair of the first BRICS Media Forum, answering the five W’s: What? Who? VUYO DLAMINI
ISSUE 01 • 2018 | 3
CEO’S which is dominated by a few superpowers.
NOTE The BRICS Academic Review seeks
to provide critical and strategic ways
of examining the role that BRICS has
to play in a fast-paced, changing world
system, and to serve as a platform where
original proposals, concepts and theories
can flourish. The language of BRICS will
have to be different if it seeks to engage
with the dominant discourse of the liberal
world as espoused by its scholars, and
Exploring the transform it.
transformative Critical studies that build on the body
potential of BRICS of knowledge within BRICS – referred to
as BRICSOLOGY – abound, and should
be accessible to the broader public and
policymakers alike. Strategies adopted
This year is a milestone for in the BRICS countries should be based
T BRICS, marking as it does
the 10th anniversary of its
on empirical data and should be different
in order to address the unique challenges
formation. As the host country for the confronting the 42% of the world’s
2018 summit, South Africa has a role to population making up BRICS. the second golden decade of BRICS co-
play in shaping the discourse and the For BRICS to succeed, citizens of these operation and solidarity.
agenda regarding the future of BRICS. five member states need to understand In driving these objectives, the BRICS
There is growing academic and public the group’s political and economic vision. Academic Review will examine new
interest in all matters related to BRICS And, most importantly, they need to see narratives and policy alternatives being
and the Global South. Academics their lives change for the better. mooted in South Africa. These are many
and researchers in South Africa have It is appropriate, therefore, that the and varied, and are bound to provoke more
established long-term comparative
research projects and networks in Brazil,
Russia, India and China. The same
can be said for civil society and labour BRICS Academic Review seeks
organisations, which have established
various networks with their counterparts to provide critical and strategic ways of
in these countries.
However, there is often a missing link examining the role that BRICS has to play in
between academics, researchers and policy
makers, civil society and labour. a fast-paced, changing world system, and to
It gives me great pleasure, then, to
introduce this new publication, the BRICS serve as a platform where original proposals,
Academic Review. It is hoped that this
must-read will go some way towards concepts and theories can flourish.
bridging the gap between academics,
researchers and policy makers.
The establishment of BRICS a decade
ago goes beyond the simple concept of theme for South Africa’s tenure of the thought and debate on the way forward for
having five different countries come BRICS presidency is Inclusive Development BRICS.
together to form a political and economic Through a Socially Responsive Economy. The time is ripe for new ideas; join us
collaboration. The most compelling In the Xiamen Declaration of 2011, and our contributors as we map out an ever
purpose for the formation of BRICS BRICS committed to working together more promising future for BRICS.
was, and still is, that of changing the to enhance its strategic partnership for the
geopolitical landscape. welfare of all its people. Likewise, South PROF SARAH MOSOETSA
To this end, the five member states Africa is committed to building on the Chief Executive Officer
making up BRICS seek to bring about outcomes and consensus of the previous National Institute for the Humanities and
a radical reinterpretation of the current BRICS summits with unwavering Social Sciences (NIHSS), custodians of the
narrative regarding the political economy, conviction – and in so doing, usher in South African BRICS Think Tank (SABTT)
4 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW
Contents EDITOR
Vuyo Dlamini
PUBLISHING
Lifestyle Media
ART DIRECTOR
Charl Malherbe
SUB-EDITOR
Craig Falk
Alyn Adams
PROOF READER
Colette Braudo
PRINTER
Lebone Litho Printers
Copyright © 2018 by Lifestye Media. All rights reserved.
34
No part of this publication may be reproduced or
distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a
database or retrieval system, without the prior written
permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this
publication are not necessarily those of the editors,
publisher, or advertisers.
CONTRIBUTORS
THE OPENER Amanda Lucey, Aquina Thulare, Ari Sitas, Aurelia
Upfront Reflections on 10 years of BRICS 8 Mbokazi-Dyantyi, Batandwa Malingo, Bernice Maune,
Jerry Obakeng Gaegane, Marianne Buenaventura
Insight Unpacking 2018 BRICS theme with Professor Ari Sita 16 Goldman, Musa Tintswalo Maphalakasi, Nhlanhla Maake,
Op-ed What does the NDB’s Regional Center mean for Africa 17 Philani Mthembu, Rasigan Maharajh, Seeraj Mohamed,
Siphamandla Zondi, Soya Magida; Yaroslav Lissovolik
Essays Viewpoints from the academics 21
Photo series Joburg’s present-day gold rush in photos 34
AFRICAN AFFAIRS
Observation The Decolonisation Project: Language in Advertising 46
In focus Africa: A continent of intellectual wealth 50
Phd graduates NIHSS graduate programme highlights 54
Guide What makes Joburg a world class African city? 57
NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE HUMANITIES
AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
BRICS AGENDA
Email: info@nihss.ac.za
Global view BRICS: poised for a bigger global role? 62
Tel: +27 11 480 2300
Health BRICS gets a health assessment by Dr Thulare 70 Fax: +27 11 482 3068
Overview Insights, news and commentary about BRICS 78 2nd Floor, 24 St Andrews Johannesburg,
Parktown Gauteng, 2193
Literature Essential books to read this quarter 86 Postnet Suite 413 P/Bag X30500 Houghton, 2041
Gallery Humanities and Social Sciences Awards 2018 84 www.nihss.ac.za
EVENT
The 3rd
Annual
Conference
of the BRICS UNDER THE THEME: “UNBLOCKING
BRICS UNIVERSITIES’ PARTNERSHIPS:
POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION
Network OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES”
University SCHEDULED FOR 5-7 JULY 2018
Van der Sterr Building, corner Bosman and Victoria Street,
Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch
HOSTED BY: The primary aim of the conference is to consolidate the BRICS education
agenda as well as highlight strategic areas of research collaboration and
THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND exchanges through the BRICS Network University in order to position the
TRAINING (DHET) BRICS nations in the global knowledge system.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Delegates are responsible for making their own travel and
THE NATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE (NCC) accommodation arrangements. However, block reservations have been
OF THE BRICS NETWORK UNIVERSITY secured at favourable rates for delegates at both Spier Hotel, R310
Stellenbosch (www.spier.co.za) and Protea Hotel by Marriot Stellenbosch
AND
Techno Avenue, Techno Park (proteahotels.com) Delegates are required
STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY (SU) to contact the hotels directly. Delegates who wish to stay at Spier
Hotel must provide the reference no. 2144831 and email their request
to reservations@spier.co.za for reservations at their own cost. The
reservations will be held until 9 June 2018 for both hotels.
Any query regarding logistics and accommodation Queries relating to the conference content should be Kindly confirm your participation by registering
should be directed to the conference coordinator Ms directed to Mr Simon Motlhanke at Motlhanke.s@ through the following link:
Lidia du Plessis at lidia@sun.ac.za or mobile number: dhet.gov.za; or Ms Mmudi Maphalla at http://www.bricsnetworkuniversityconference.co.za/.
+27 (0)82 940 5700. Maphalla.M@dhet.gov.za.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN UNTIL 20 JUNE 2018.
Looking forward to welcoming you
the
Opener
Reflections on 10 years of BRICS
8
Unpacking 2018 BRICS theme with Professor Ari Sitas
14
What does the NDB’s Regional Center mean for Africa?
17
Viewpoints from the academics
21
Joburg’s present-day gold rush in photos
34
UPFRONT
ABOUT WRITER
Soya Magida is a financial
journalist. He’s written for
Business Report, Business Day,
Business Times and Financial
Mail. He holds a B.Comm from
Walter Sisulu University.
SOYA MAGIDA
BRICS must
address injustices
at home before it
can fix the world
T
THE FORMATION CALLED BRICS
HAS CAPTIVATED WORLD
ATTENTION WITH ITS PROMISE
TO ACT AS A FORCE THAT
CAN DISCIPLINE IMPERIALISTIC
DOMINATION OF WORLD AFFAIRS
BY WESTERN POWERS. BUT THE
BRICS WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS
SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES AT HOME,
IN ORDER TO BECOME A GOOD
FORCE IN THE WORLD
The association of Brazil, Russia, India, Soko notes that: “It will not be enough This relic of western imperialism
China and South Africa (BRICS) (for BRICS) to seek to correct uneven remains visible in the constitution of
approaches its 10th annual summit with a power relations in the global sphere without multilateral organisations like the United
refreshing theme: “Envisioning inclusive addressing socioeconomic vulnerabilities Nations, the International Monetary
development through a socially responsive within the BRICS states themselves.” Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and in
economy.” Many are hoping and praying Adds Soko, “For these countries to international trade arrangements.
that this theme does not live and die as an have appeal and project soft power, they Simply put, Western nations – like the
empty slogan. must also be seen as credible. The power of United States, United Kingdom, France,
The theme speaks to a largely their voice in global governance processes Germany, etc. – continue to dominate the
neglected inward-looking social factor should echo their transformative actions world order, leaving a trail of despicable
in the life of the BRICS formation – an domestically.” injustices in their wake. Their riches – the
oversight that could potential scupper the BRICS is largely understood as a force wealth and welfare of their populations –
critical BRICS project. with the capability to discipline the global come at the expense of the people of the
That grim possibility is well captured political order – mainly the inequitable developing world.
by Mills Soko, the head of the Graduate distribution of economic and political The BRICS formation has largely
Business School at the University of power at international level that favours the shaped up as an effort to rectify these
Cape Town. Western powers. persisting geopolitical injustices.“As
8 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW
a collective, (the BRICS nations) are lived as a club of men, with little ambition BRICS is indeed a good sign of some
unhappy with, and critical of, Western – if any – to enforce gender equality. positive change in world economics. The
dominance of multilateral institutions,” A paradigm shift is required to fix this bloc has emerged on the back of the rising
argues University of Johannesburg situation, argues Shubha Chacko, gender significance of developing economies to
academic Mzukisi Qobo. “This is because equality activist who penned the article world trade.
they have for many years been on the titled: Taking it to the Bank: Gender Issues The numbers speak for themselves.
margins. They’re also dissatisfied with at the New Development Bank. Representing about 40% of the world’s
the perceived refusal of the West to share Most critiques agree that there is population, the Brazil, Russia, India,
global power.” still time and considerable goodwill to China and South Africa bloc has become
In that understanding, BRICS takes an mend the BRICS project. It’s partly a key driver of global economic growth. It
offensive posture, focused on disciplining reflected in the Xiamen Declaration generated 20% of world output in 2016 and
the imperialistic forces. It’s a justifiable from the 9th BRICS summit, which has accounted for 50% of global growth
mission, but it needs to be accompanied by commits to the 2030 Agenda for since the end of 2009.
deep introspections to stand any chance of Sustainable Development. The prevailing world order has failed
success. Otherwise, the BRICS will become It says “We will also advocate to recognise this change. Developing
a waste of time and energy. equitable, open, all-round, innovation- nations remain grossly under-represented
There are already observations driven and inclusive development, to in multilateral institutions, which
suggesting that BRICS is offering more achieve sustainable development in its feed into unfair trade relations driving
of the same. That view is aired amongst three dimensions – economic, social inequality and poverty.
others by Wits University academic- and environmental – in a balanced and Inequality and poverty remains a fixture
cum-social justice activist, Patrick integrated manner.” of the developing world; a reality that is
Bond. He warns that “The BRICS had This was echoed by China’s President well captured in the latest Oxfam report on
promised to challenge an unfair global Xi Jinping. “We need to make the inequality. The report does note the progress
economic system.” But it seems to be international order more just and registered in recent years – for instance, the
failing in this mission by leading a
“neoliberal life” that’s not so different to
that of the Western/capitalistic states it
is condemning. The world needs a new champion for
And there are suspicions that BRICS
sets out to become another elite group for inclusive development – which can only
itself within an order of world inequality.
Its approaches to business and economic be achieved through socially responsive
development seem to be not so different to
the environmentally destructive practices of economies. The theme of the 10th BRICS
the modern era.
Those who make this charge point Summit speaks to that need.
to some of the projects financed by the
BRICS’ New Development Bank, among
other activity. They are also concerned about
the posture of the bank – its governance equitable… We need to make economic number of people living in extreme poverty
rhythms have so far failed accountability globalisation open, inclusive, balanced (on less than $1.90 a day) halved between
and transparency tests. and beneficial to all, build an open 1990 and 2010.
The New Development Bank, argues world economy ...” The number continues to decline, but
University of Pretoria academic Danny But then, talk is cheap. Follow-ups from not fast enough – and the geographical
Bradlow, risks repeating the tragic the 10th BRICS summit will have to be biases in inequality and poverty trends
mistakes committed by the Bretton watched closely. remain largely intact.
Woods institutions. The main mistake The Oxfam report also notes that
of the latter was to concentrate only on The global inequalities the many who have been lifted out of
economic issues in their operational There is no doubt the BRICS mission extreme poverty often remain very poor.
decision – at the expense of social, needs to be breaking the glass ceiling They are in debt and struggling to feed
human-rights and environmental for developing countries. The world their families. “Many may be only one
factors. This and other behaviour could remains a nasty place for the masses step away from slipping back. More than
undermine the BRICS, argues Bradlow. in the developing world. And yet the half of the world’s population lives on
And a dismal performance on the phenomenon called BRICS represents between $2 and $10 a day.”
gender-equity scales is not helping the hope for positive change – in what makes This, says the report, is a result of such a
situation. BRICS has thus far largely for a schizophrenic development. small proportion of global income growth
ISSUE 01 • 2018 | 9
UPFRONT
having gone to the poorest half of humanity
in the past 25 years. It’s a point taken from
the latest World Inequality Report, put
together by the World Inequality Lab.
That report shows that the top 1%,in
economic wealth terms, captured 27% of
total global income growth between 1980
and 2016, while the bottom 50% only
received about 12% of total income growth.
The global average per-adult national
income stands at €1,340 per month,
according to the World Inequality Report.
North Americans command an income that
is three times higher than the average. That
figure is two times higher than the global
average in Europe.
China is said to be in a much better
position than before. Average per-adult
income in China is slightly lower than the
global average. China has over the years
risen to claim a higher share of global
income than North America or Europe
(19%, 17%, and 17%, respectively). That
paints a marked improvement from the
1980s, when China represented only 3%
of total global income. “Over this period,
strong converging forces were in play
that reduced global income inequality Poverty in South Africa
between countries. While growth slowed Township of Kliptown is a suburb of the Sadly, the domestic factor in the
in Western Europe, it skyrocketed in formerly black township of Soweto. Its BRICS record is not looking good. These
Asia and China in particular, following origins are a very poor and impoverished countries run with huge but varying
the modernisation of its economy and its black township under South Africa’s human rights deficits.
opening to global markets,” says the World Apartheid government. 24 years on and The domestic factor has made BRICS
Inequality Report. poverty still persists. vulnerable to attacks at home and
However, adds the report, diverging abroad. That’s partly because the global
forces were also in play in other parts of inequality numbers also show worrying
the world. “From 1980 to now, average ordinary citizens in the member states inequality trends within BRICS countries
incomes in sub-Saharan Africa and and beyond to become a life changing themselves. South Africa, Brazil, India
South America fell behind the world reality. It can’t be just about summits and to some extent Russia are struggling to
average.” between business and government address their inequalities and stubbornly
Clearly the world needs a new leaders – it must be people centred. high poverty levels. While China has
champion for inclusive development, It’s the ordinary people, the workers in achieved a lot in terms of lifting millions
which can only be achieved through factories and the small to medium-sized out of poverty, it still face criticism for the
socially responsive economies. The theme entrepreneurs and cooperatives, who can rural/urban welfare divide.
of the 10th BRICS Summit speaks to drive up the output that can rebalance
that need. world trade. A ground-up movement South Africa’s stubborn
that can support the BRICS ideals inequalities
BRICS inequalities will be shaped by the “soft power” and South Africa, the host of the 10th
The political diplomacy that has made credibility that Soko speaks of. BRICS summit, is coming under the
BRICS the potent force it has become Bradlow points out that for BRICS microscope in its struggle to facilitate
so far is not enough to realise its ideals nations to achieve a just and equitable inclusive growth. The country has come
of transforming world economics into a international economic order, they to be known as one of the most unequal
just affair. BRICS needs to be a ground- will be required to take seriously their societies in the world. That’s not to
up movement to stand any chance of commitment to protect and promote disregard some progress achieved since the
real success. That’s to say the BRICS human rights as set out in the UN country transitioned from the apartheid
movement must enjoy the support of Charter and other human rights treaties. system into a democracy in 1994.
10 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEWhave in general terms claimed a growing as an important lens through
disproportionately higher portion of which to understand the dynamics of
the post 1994 economic growth. That inequality in South Africa. “Evidence
trend connects to the global feature from a 2012 study showed that intra-race
highlighted in the Oxfam analysis. inequality (inequality between members of
“Last year saw the biggest increase in the same race group) had exceeded inter-
billionaires in history, one more every race inequality (between race groups).”
two days. Billionaires saw their wealth This, in other words, means that
increase by $762-billion in 12 months. income inequality among black South
This huge increase could have ended Africans has become higher than in any
global extreme poverty seven times over. other race group. They highlight the
82% of all wealth created in the past year fact that in1993, inequality within race
went to the top 1%, while the bottom groups accounted for 48% of overall
50% saw no increase at all.” That’s more inequality. By 2008, this had increased
or less the story of South Africa. to 62%.
The point is, while South Africa has
addressed some of the poverty challenges BRICS behaviour
facing its population, the level and The formation of BRICS came with a
quality is not good enough to address its promise to deliver a new approach to
inequality gap. global economic governance in what can
In an article explaining the dynamics become a significant driver of inclusive
of South Africa’s inequality, academics development. 10 years have passed
Edward Webster, David Francis and since BRICS was formalised. It’s fair to
Imraan Valodia point out that “It is look back and ask the question of how
effective it has been in reforming global
economic governance in practice.
Some academics have considered
this question.The honest answer, argues
BRICS takes an offensive posture, focused Bradlow, is that as a group, BRICS
hasn’t been an effective force at all. This
on disciplining imperialistic forces. It’s is due to a number of reasons, not least
failure to walk the talk.
a justifiable mission, but it needs to be Bond concurs, arguing that BRICS
has wasted opportunities to change
accompanied by deep introspections to global economic governance after being
invited into institutions like the IMF and
stand any chance of success. the World Bank.
Bradlow uses the performance of
BRICS members inside the G20 and
within the IMF and the World Bank to
look at its track record.
Considerable upward mobility has widely accepted that South Africa is He adds that BRICS countries,
occurred within the black section of one of the most unequal societies in the together with other G20 developing
the population. Some opening up of world – the top 10% of the population countries, have become more active
the economy has pushed many black earn about 60% of all income and own participants in organisations responsible
households out of poverty to enter the 95% of all assets.” for developing international financial
low- to middle-income class. Many more The three academics further point regulatory standards. “This means that
– about a third of the population – have out that “Gender inequality in wealth they now can participate in the writing
been saved from absolute poverty by a and income continues to be pervasive in of standards that guide the international
massive social grant programme. A few South Africa. Significantly, black women financial system. But the system
black individuals have moved into the continue to carry the burden of low-paid continues to be more responsive to the
middle- and higher-income bracket. work.” In 2015, they argue, there were interests of the rich and powerful than
But inequality persists due to the 1.1-million domestic workers in South those of the developing world.”
fact that some of the key structural Africa, 887,000 of them women, who He further notes that while the G20
impediments remain in place. The earned less than R3,500 per month.” has supplanted the G7, made up of
historically privileged white groups They also point out that class is Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,
ISSUE 01 • 2018 | 11UPFRONT
the UK and the US, as the premier
forum for global economic governance,
the agenda of the G20 meetings is
still largely set by the most powerful
countries – which now include China,
but not the other BRICS members.
On the IMF and World Bank
participation, Bradlow says both these
institutions changed their voting
arrangements to give a louder voice to
developing economies and emerging
economies. “This has particularly
benefitted China, India and Brazil. But
BRICS hasn’t supported South Africa’s
call for a third African seat on the
board of the IMF. This has left Africa
as the most underrepresented region on
the board.”
Bond takes the argument further,
arguing that “the BRICS [countries]
are at their most self-destructive mode”
in the role they play within global
governance institutions. He notes that
the latest rearrangement of voting right
inside the IMF increased China’s voting
power by 37%, Brazil’s by 23%, India’s
by 11%, and Russia’s by 8%. “This is seen [BRICS]…opened spaces and
to have come at the expense of Nigeria,
which lost 41% of voting power, Libya opportunities for feminist activists from the
(39%), Morocco (27%), Gabon (26%),
Algeria (26%), Namibia (26%) and even global south to engage with the larger
South Africa (21%).” This doesn’t augur
well with the principles of equity that the political economy debates.
BRICS are claiming to be serving. - Priti Darooka, executive director, Programme on Women’s Economic,
Their claims, argues Bond, were further
Social and Cultural Rights
compromised by the deal that the BRICS
New Development Bank signed with the
World Bank. The deal would see the two
organisations collaborate in the areas of For example, says Bradlow, it’s harder a commitment to respect and promote
project finance, facilitation of knowledge for outsiders to access information on the the rights of each individual affected by
exchange, advisory services and secondment operational policies and practices of the each project, programme or policy that the
and staff exchanges. “The BRICS leaders bank than those of the World Bank or the BRICS undertake.
may regret these growing ties to global African Development Bank. “Unlike those “This requires developing a good system
power. As the BRICS-bloc coherence other banks, there isn’t yet a mechanism to forecast the impact of a project on the
comes into question, a progressive to hold the New Development Bank environment, society, and human rights.
BRICS-from-below network will offer a accountable if it causes harm.” Another element is accountability. Any
far more attractive version of South-South To fulfil their commitment to promote person adversely affected by a project should
collaboration.” a more just and equitable global economy, have access to a mechanism that can provide
To its credit, says Bradlow, BRICS the BRICS will need to up their game, them with an effective remedy.”
has come up with new international says Bradlow “Achieving a just and
financial institutions. The key ones are the equitable international economic order Politics and civil society
BRICS’ New Development Bank and the requires governments to take seriously Failure to engage broader civil society
Contingent Reserve Arrangement. But the their commitment to protect and promote bases across the BRICS countries
New Development Bank operates in a less human rights as set out in the UN Charter stands to undermine its vision to carve
transparent and less accountable way than and other human rights treaties.” inclusive development through socially
other multilateral development banks. The starting point, argues Bradlow, is responsive economies. That failure is
12 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEWpartly reflected in the development of Gender sensitivity India (87) and China (99).
a civil society movement parallel to the BRICS philosophies, principles and An initiative titled BRICS Feminist
BRICS annual summits. ambitions are best reflected in the Watch may grow to save the situation.
Parallel to the ninth BRICS summit declarations issued after every annual It has engaged the BRICS New
in Xiamen, China, stood the Hong Kong summit. It’s therefore fair to use these Development Bank, among other
People’s Forum. It is said to have been declarations to weigh up BRICS interactions, to ensure that BRICS
facilitated by Hong Kong’s progressive commitment on key issues. That exercise development activity is gender sensitive.
labour, intellectual and faith leaders, and sees BRICS failing in its commitment to Priti Darooka, executive director of
also drew other civil society representatives change from being a club of men. the Programme on Women’s Economic,
from 13 countries. They gathered to critique A survey of the BRICS 2017 Social and Cultural Rights, points out
the exclusionary culture that’s forming Xiamen Declaration draws no reference that BRICS Feminist Watch comes as
within the BRICS initiative. It was the whatsoever to gender equality – there is a a critical intervention, with a promise
lastest on a trail of protest that includes single and vague reference to the concept to add into BRICS space “the collective
of “women economic empowerment”. strength of feminist analysis and activism
This can only undermine BRICS stature to promote gender-responsive inclusive
as an organisation that stands for economic development”.
inclusive development. BRICS, argues Darooka, has to some
Women’s rights in India
With the exception of South Africa, the extent created some chaos within the
NCP’s women wing president Supriya Sule
BRICS countries generally reflect poor world order. The chaos “opened spaces and
with party workers protest outside the Sales
performance on gender-equality scales. The opportunities for feminist activists from
Tax office, demanding exclusion of sanitary
latest such scale would be the Gender Gap the global south to engage with the larger
napkins from the GST ambit and to make it
Report from the World Economic Forum. political economy debates”.
tax free.
Only South Africa presents a respectable However, the central question of
performance in this report, which measured how to move the world out of the
the gender gap for economic participation domination by the neoliberal model
and opportunity across 144 countries. remains, Darooka argues: “BRICS offers
the 2013 BRICS-from-below in Durban, The report’s overall finding was that one space upon which we can reflect
the 2014 Dialogue on Development in the gender gap for economic participation and search for appropriate political
Fortaleza, and the 2016 Goa People’s and opportunity stood at 60% worldwide, strategies.” BRICS Feminist Watch has a
Forum on BRICS. which reflects a four-percentage-point potential to seize the moment.
This movement offers what is improvement from 56% in 2006. The report The BRICS Feminist Watch has wasted
characterised as a “counternarrative to the measures the size of the gender inequality no time. Established last year, it has already
neoliberal agenda” of the official BRICS gap in four areas: commissioned and published a research
summits. And they offer a platform for • Economic participation and opportunity paper on how to best tackle BRICS – and
left-leaning civil society groups from the – salaries, participation and leadership; in particular the New Development Bank
BRICS countries, who are excluded in • Education – access to basic and higher – titled: Taking it to the Bank: Gender
official platforms, to air their views. levels of education; Issues at the New Development Bank.
The character and role and impact of • Political empowerment – representation Written by Shubha Chacko, the paper
investment capital from within BRICS, in decision-making structures; argues that the BRICS moment presents “a
particularly Chinese capital, comes under • Health and survival – life expectancy and historic window of opportunity” to fashion
scrutiny. There are concerns that Chinese sex ratio. a paradigm shift that is gender-sensitive on
money in developing countries – with The report notes that the rate at which development approaches.
particular reference to resource-rich the world is addressing the gender gap is The NDB, says the paper, could offer the
African nations – causes the same social painfully slow. “Based on the prevailing world not only a new way of doing business,
havoc as that from Western nations. It can trajectory, with all else remaining equal, it but could also sow the seed of an alternative
be extractive and exploitative against the will take 81 years for the world to close the framing of the idea of development.
people and the environment. gender gap completely.” “The task for all of us is to keep the
Bond, who attended the 2017 Hong The Nordic nations remain the most pressure up on the institution, and to
Kong People’s Forum, points out that the gender-equal societies in the world. monitor all aspects of its structure and
weaknesses run deeper. He argues there Iceland is on top, followed in the top 10 activities to ensure greater adherence to
are powerful centrifugal forces that are by Finland, Norway, Sweden, Rwanda, its commitment to inclusion, equity and
tearing the BRICS and their stated agendas Ireland, Philippines, Slovenia, New sustainability… It would be a tragedy if
apart. This is partly driven by the changing Zealand and Nicaragua, this new actor which could leverage for
ideological characters of new governments South Africa makes the top 15. The a stronger role of the global south in the
that have emerged in BRICS’ states, argues rest of the BRICS countries are laggards. field of development finance fails to do so,”
Bond. Russia is at 75, followed by Brazil (79), concludes Darooka.
ISSUE 01 • 2018 | 13INSIGHT
ABOUT WRITER
Ari Sitas, chairperson of
the National Institute for
the Humanities and Social
Sciences & chairperson of
the South African BRICS
Think Tank
PROF. ARI SITAS
Reconfiguring
the World System
A
ENVISIONING INCLUSIVE
DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A
SOCIALLY RESPONSIVE ECONOMY
As South Africa assumes the BRICS
chair, 2018 serves as a serious moment
to take stock of achievements made
collectively by the BRICS formation
since its inception a decade ago. Perhaps
the fact that we promulgated the initial
ideas around the creation of a New
Development Bank then, and also that
we insisted that the inclusion of other
non-BRICS countries – also known as
BRICS Plus – in the summit should be
about African pathways of development,
were two critically important
contributions.
What is South Africa bringing onto
the agenda?
We are taking the lead at a time when
the world system is experiencing
unprecedented challenges and shocks,
and where world economic growth has
diminished from the 4.4% per annum
during our 2013 stewardship to 2.5% per
annum now. Only India and China are
still pulling the statistics up above average
– Russia and Brazil have plummeted
into negative figures, and South Africa
is growing at 1%; lower than our annual
population growth.
As we take the BRICS lead after a year
of decisive Chinese leadership, we take
heed of Premier Xi Jinping’s caution that
all of us all need to respond creatively to
what he called the “new normal”, as the
“pattern is changing from large-scale and
14 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEWhigh-speed extensive growth to high- innovation.
quality and efficient intensive growth”. What follows is a description of the
Gross Domestic Product expansion for prisms through which our work will
him is not a panacea anymore. Rather, be conducted, and the priorities for the
he urges, “ecological progress, advances BRICS Think Tanks Council and its
in science and technology, and all-round Academic Forum in late May 2018.
innovation”, are the factors that will hold Then we will try to make transparent
the key to the door of the future. And not the framework through which we see
all innovation – “but innovation based our priorities as thinkers in the BRICS
on research and technologies of public domain.
benefit”. We are living in the midst of and
We are also taking the lead in a witnessing a major reconfiguration of the
context where for our purposes the world system – which is nudging us away
crises of poverty, unemployment and from the unipolar world that emerged
a gnawing inequality persist as serious with seeming confidence under the USA’s
impediments to the better life for all that stewardship as the Soviet world collapsed.
our democratic breakthrough promised Caught between the “end of history”
back in 1994. That is why the theme talk and the enticing idea of the
for our BRICS Think Tank for the year “information age” and its “global village”,
is Envisioning Inclusive Development we were rather late in understanding a
We are living in the midst of and
witnessing a major reconfiguration of
the world system – which is nudging
us away from the unipolar world that
emerged with seeming confidence under
the USA’s stewardship as the Soviet
world collapsed.
through a Socially Responsive Economy. tectonic shift. But it was there in 2003
We would like to inform our Chinese when the World Trade Organisation talks
counterparts that we have taken to heart collapsed in Cancun, and very much there
their premier’s take on a new development in 2008-9 when the economic meltdown
concept: “the concept of innovative, scuttled parts of the global economy.
coordinated, green, open and inclusive For a while the Braudellian School
development”. around Immanuel Wallerstein had been
As you shall see, we are working in arguing that we are living through a
tandem with critical priorities brought systemic crisis and that the United States’s
forward by the government’s task teams hegemony was waning. Their arguments
to take the lead: in peace and security, were dwarfed by the post-1989 dominance
in innovations for development based on of neoconservative thinking in politics
the fourth industrial revolution, in the and neoliberalism in economics. The
creation of a women and gender BRICS reconfiguration we are experiencing was
forum, and the creation of a platform for of course punctuated by the emergence
an reaserch and development centre for of BRICS as a developmental pact,
vaccine development, implementation and rather than a “growth alliance”. At first
ISSUE 01 • 2018 | 15INSIGHT
it was shaped by a series of multilateral century CE. The clearest was what
and bilateral interactions. Picture this: Britain achieved between the 1790s
at a certain point of their endogenous and the 1890s. It was remarkable and
development as industrial societies, each unprecedented in world history. For a
one of the BRICS partners sought a brief period it reconfigured the world
move towards an openness to the world system, by the late 19th century managing
economy. China’s Four Modernisations to combine control over material and
Policy, Gorbachev’s Perestroika, symbolic value. What it achieved in
India’s 4th Plan, Brazil’s Cardoso-led the eras of colonialism and imperialism
globalisation and even apartheid’s New was beyond industrialisation and pure
Economic Policy (later taken over by the competitive advantage.
ANC’s macro-economic policy after 1994) Looked at with a cruel eye: it was
nudged all of these societies into a world a system that aimed and systematised
of markets that were self-serving for those towards unipolarity, but which
who deemed themselves “developed”. compromised on variety to immunise
Thus what followed, as we say… deviance and threats. It is the very system
followed: thus, the breakdown in that the US tried to re-steer after the
Cancun, thus IBSA (India Brazil, South Second World War.
Africa cooperation), thus Russia-China It is the challenge to our academic
Friendship agreement, thus China-Africa community to decipher what about BRICS
(Beijing Consensus), thus BRIC and is novel in terms of its reconfiguration
later, BRICS. And by time of the BRICS efforts, despite the fact that it is work in
Summits of Fortaleza in Brazil and Ufa progress. But the critical work needs its
in Russia, the concerns moved beyond the The time: in nudging the world towards a
economic, to deal with interstate relations “cautious” multipolarity, how do the new
and a range of norms and agreements reconfiguration we steering systems work around equality
that will need a number of talks and of voice, what the Chinese are arguing
discussions like these to seriously explore. are experiencing was for “win-win” relationships, “people to
It is through them that the principle people” encounters and new developmental
of a multipolar world emerged as an of course punctuated priorities? And what about South Africa?
architecture for and a commitment to the What do we bring to the agenda?
world system. by the emergence BRICS is not challenging the existing
In other words, we are living through multilateral system, nor is it trying to
an epochal change, similar to the period of BRICS as a subvert or create alternatives to the United
between 1400-1700 which saw the
gradual ascendance of the West and developmental pact, Nations system’s working institutions.
What it is trying to do is to strengthen it,
the involution of the Rest. But let us
stay with the 1500s where China was rather than a “growth while at the same time create a multipolar
framework for cooperation. How we
undergoing an industrious revolution
during the last century of its Ming alliance”. understand the word “reconfiguration”
must bear this in mind.
period. Of the 21 cities with more than Finally, on narratives of success: whatever
100 000 people, 15 were located East and is articulated, it will not be heard clearly in
only 3 in Europe, with Paris catching up networks that have already cast BRICS as
with Genoa and Venice. the continent a vassal state of the World a negative and short-term phenomenon.
As in that prior period, what is Bank and the International Monetary The fact that these countries represent 40
emerging and declining is highly Fund. However frightening and uncertain percent of the world population, that they
interconnected, uneven and contradictory. a move away from the Washington generated 20 percent of world output in
For us in South Africa, the BRICS Consensus might be, it seems like an 2016, and have accounted for 50 percent of
initiative is beyond the obvious new unavoidable reality. global growth since the end of 2009 (even
trade winds – the creation of a world But we cannot rely clichés: science though South Africa joined later) should
system with a cooperative set of demands that we understand what add some gravitas.
relations, respectful of sovereignty and hegemonic powers “systematise” – and
difference was appreciated. What was here, we have only two case studies
also appreciated is that it may create a in world history, but we can also look Abridged version of a paper delivered at the
structured opportunity for Africa to move at smaller units of absolutist states in first BRICS 2018 Lecture at WITS Business
out of the blockages that rendered most of interaction from the 11th to the 15th School in February 2018
16 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEWOP-ED
ABOUT WRITERS
Marianne Buenaventura Goldman is the BRICSAMIT Amanda Lucey works as a consultant for Oxfam
strategy manager and South-South Co-operation South Africa. She specialises in South-South
(SSC) project lead for Oxfam South Africa. Marianne co-operation and peace-building. Amanda
co-ordinates Oxfam’s SSC projects in Brazil, India, holds an MPhil in Justice and Transformation
China, South Africa, Mexico and Turkey that focus on from the University of Cape Town.
tackling poverty and inequality in the global South.
The president of the BRICS New
What’s new about the New Development Bank, KV Kamath
Development Bank? and former International Relations
Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
MARIANNE BUENAVENTURA during the launch of the bank at the
T
GOLDMAN & AMANDA LUCEY African Regional Centre on August
17, 2017 in Sandton, South Africa
The BRICS-led New Development Bank The African Regional Center (ARC) continent at large, in a people-centred
(NDB) is the first multilateral development of the NDB, launched in August 2017, way. However, these promises will
bank established exclusively by emerging heralds cautious optimism for the not be realised through rhetoric but
and developing countries to support African continent. From the NDB’s through concrete action.
infrastructure and sustainable development initial proclamations, it appears that According to the NDB, infrastructure
in BRICS and other emerging-market there is a real opportunity for this new projects will incorporate economic,
economies. As such, it can be viewed as source of financing to provide resources environmental and social aspects in their
one of the first multiregional development for sustainable infrastructure that will design, building and operation. The
banks led by the South, for the South. first benefit South Africa, and then the NDB intends to focus on infrastructure
ISSUE 01 • 2018 | 17OP-ED
projects related to urban development,
water, energy and transport – areas that
are not necessarily new to Development
Finance Institutions (DFIs) but that
present additional sources of financing
for African countries in a climate of
global austerity.
Where the NDB intends to be
different, however, is in the way it
engages in relationships, projects and
instruments, as well as approaches,
and in particular with civil society. Its
operational strategy between 2017 and
2020 emphasises this, along with the
principles often inherent in South-
South co-operation: equality, mutual
respect, trust and national sovereignty.
While this sounds good on paper, the
NDB has already initiated 13 projects
at a total value of over US$3-billion,
but there has been no consultation
regarding these projects with civil
society or the greater public.
From a national context, the NDB
has not undertaken any projects in
South Africa since it put on ice a loan
to Eskom to build transmission lines
to connect renewable energy to the
national grid. Given the financial crisis
and numerous challenges faced by
Eskom, one could ask how the decision
was made in awarding Eskom the first
NDB loan for South Africa.
BRICS civil society organisations
(CSOs) had a meeting with the NDB
board of directors in Shanghai in
November 2017. Of the main key
asks in their Shanghai Communiqué
is a call for greater transparency
and accountability. As part of its
information disclosure policy, the
NDB has provided a form on its
website where the public can request
information. Despite numerous
requests put forward by BRICS CSOs
submitted as far back as May 2017
through the NDB website’s public
information disclosure request form,
New Development Bank is currently
headquartered in BRICS Tower (formerly the
Oriental Financial Centre) in Shanghai
18 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEWresponses have not been forthcoming. Ratsoma spoke to Business
While the NDB explains that having Day TV a few days before
a lean structure with a six-month he stepped into the position
target of loan preparation process, a and said: “The focus is on
stronger emphasis should be placed on the challenges that lie ahead
public engagement and civil society and the quicker I rolls up my
consultation. sleeves, the better.”
It is also important to emphasise On infrastructure investments
on the continent, Ratsoma
said that “Africa has large
infrastructure gaps and South
While this Africa is no exception. Where it
becomes problematic is when
sounds good on you end up with a considerable
paper, the NDB MEET amount of trade leakage to parts
of the world beyond the continent
has already initiated MONALE because the infrastructure is
not sufficient to facilitate free
13 projects to a RATSOMA movement of goods and people.
Until such time that we address
head of the New the infrastructure bottlenecks,
total value of over Development Bank the continent will continue to
African Regional Center underperform compared to the
US$3-billion, but rest of the world”.
He added that, “given that
there has been Ratsoma took the reigns as the bank itself is still in its infant
head of the New Development stage and initially there will be
no consultation Bank (NDB) in mid-April 2018. balance sheet constraints, which
His role entails managing the is where we are, with the capital
regarding these NDB’s African regional operations that the members have provided
projects with civil and leading its African efforts
in project preparation, project
there are projects that have
been approved elsewhere within
society or the implementation and regional
portfolio management. The role
member countries. In South
Africa, there are projects that
greater public. also entails collaborating with
established infrastructure and
will be approved in the next few
months. The idea, of course, is
sustainable development entities, to expand the balance sheet of
as well as representative offices the New Development Bank to be
of multilateral and regional able to have a much larger reach
the value of feedback from development banks. and that’s where the continent
communities, which should be taken Before his appointment at the will be benefiting increasingly.
into consideration at all stages of the NDB, Ratsoma served as National One such programme will be that
project cycle. Community consultation Treasury’s deputy director-general the bank will be able to borrow
is integral to ensure that projects for economic policy. He joined money itself and then on lend
are effective, efficient and benefit National Treasury in 2011 as chief money to various infrastructure
communities at large. To do this director: liability management. programmes on the continent
properly, the Shanghai Communiqué He was later appointed as deputy of Africa and other parts of the
calls on the NDB to establish effective director-general: economic policy world as it expands.”
mechanisms of accountability, in 2015. In 2016 he was given
consultation and redress. These the additional responsibility to
mechanisms should be established for act as a director-general for New Development Bank African
projects in the BRICS countries and the international and regional Regional Center Address
beyond. For Africa, this is critical as economic policy unit until 135 Daisy St, Sandown
the NDB expands its membership in March 2018. Sandton, 2031
the continent with its focus on regional
ISSUE 01 • 2018 | 19OP ED
NDB signed off the first loan agreement
for financing Shanghai Lingang distributed
Community consultation is integral to solar power project
ensure that projects are effective, efficient entitled ‘What’s new about the New
and benefit communities at large. Development Bank: Dialogue on the
launch of the NDB ARC and what it
means for Africa’ held in March 2018.
Following the meeting, interested
participants formed a CSO-NDB
integration and co-operation. sustainable development. Despite many working group to consider important
Another important ask of the civil society actors’ call for the NDB to issues and keys asks on the NDB and
Shanghai Communiqué is for the reject coal and nuclear energy projects, ARC in preparation for a civil BRICS
NDB to develop a comprehensive and the bank still expresses openness to meeting to take place in Johannesburg
mandatory gender policy to guide funding such projects. Civil society on 25 and 26 June 2018. The meeting
all NDB’s structure, governance and calls for this to be further reviewed comes as South Africa has taken up the
operations. Such a gender policy would and to show how NDB projects will rotational chair for the 2018 BRICS
assist in ensuring the NDB is sensitive incorporate not just economic aspects (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South
to the needs of those who are poorest but also clear environmental and social Africa) Summit and will be hosting the
and most marginalised, as well as benefits. Civil society is also keen 10th summit in July 2018.
tackle inequalities that exclude women to engage the NDB ARC on how it The NDB offers the African
and girls’ access to opportunities defines sustainable infrastructure, continent promise of a new way of
for economic, social and political including criteria by which it selects its working that that is transformative,
participation in BRICS countries as projects both for South Africa and the inclusive and participatory. But it must
well as in the Africa region. greater continent. now begin to work in this way in order
The NDB clearly shows its interest Many of the above concerns were to live up to its name and show that
to support infrastructure projects. Its discussed and debated at a meeting it is truly an alternative to the older
mandate also emphasises support to hosted by Oxfam and African Monitor traditional development banks.
20 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEWYou can also read
