ISSUE 04 • 2020
Photo Essay: Covid-19 Gallery: HSS Awards
Covid-19 BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW
BRICS: LIFE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 BRASILIA: BRAZIL’S SEAT OF POWER
BRICS 2020 THEME: BRICS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR GLOBAL STABILITY, SHARED SECURITY AND INNOVATIVE GROWTH CONNECT WITH US DIGITALLY!
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Covid-19
EDITOR Vuyo Dlamini
PUBLISHER Lifestyle Media
ART DIRECTOR Charl Malherbe
COPY EDITOR Colette Braudo
Copyright © 2020 by Lifestye Media. All rights reserved. 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 Photo Essay: BRICS on Lockdown publication are not necessarily those of the editors, 68 publisher, or advertisers.
Overview BRICS Round-Up 8 CONTRIBUTORS Thekiso Anthony Lefifi, Prof Gerhard Erasmus, Coronavirus: How are BRICS Countries Responding to Critique 14 the Economic Crisis? Danilo Matoso Macedo, Sylvia Ficher, Priti Darooka, Shubha Chacko, Vladmir Korovkin, Freedom Mazwi, Covid-19 and the legal Measures Employed to Upfront 16 Prof Samir Saran, Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Deal with the Crisis Prof William Gumede, Ashraf Patel, Prof Dovhani Thakathi Agenda Priorities of the Russian BRICS Chairship in 2020 22
Brazil Feature Brasilia: Preservation of a Modernist City 24 Intertwined: Women and Water – Towards a Policy at the New Feature 30 Development Bank
Insight Will Africa Close the Digital Divide? 36 What Africa Can Learn from Cuba in Combating Opinion 40 the Covid-19 Pandemic Co-existing with Covid-19: Saving Lives and Analysis 44 the Economy in India NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES Report Brics Academic Forum Brasilia, 2019 48 Road to Recovery for the Tourism Sector: Tourism 52 Email: [email protected] The South African Perspective Tel: +27 11 480 2300 Viewpoint The case for IBSA’s relevance 56 Fax: +27 11 482 3068 2nd Floor, 24 St Andrews Johannesburg, Essays BRICS Economies 59 Parktown Gauteng, 2193 Photo Essay BRICS on Lockdown 68 Postnet Suite 413 P/Bag X30500 Houghton, 2041
Events Gallery Humanities and Social Sciences Awards 2020 78 www.nihss.ac.za CEO NOTE
science, technology and innovation; It could not be otherwise. Covid-19 energy and development; transnational has brought unimaginable challenges crime; and agriculture. for Africa and the rest of the world. In addition to the the issues listed At the time of writing this editorial, above, delegates also discussed an estimated 345 122 people have died exploring ways to achieve greater after contracting the disease, leaving BRICS market integration. These many families grieving the loss of included determining common rules loved ones or fearing having to face for banking systems and stock markets, death alone. Seeing the World as well as for clearing procedures The burden of sickness and death Through the and preventing anti-corruption and has fallen overwhelmingly on the most Covid-19 Lens offshore activities. The possibility vulnerable in society: those living in of creating a BRICS visa was also conditions of poverty and deprivation. discussed. While the correlation between race, We were looking forward to poverty and health is well documented, reporting on more resolutions from this pandemic has brought the crisis W Brasilia, such as the establishment of right to the forefront and serves as a a common digital trade policy agenda, grim reminder of how much still needs the promotion of food security, and the to be achieved to redress inequality. growth of transnational crime linked At a national level, the virus We started the year 2020 with all to increased access to the internet. is being tackled on many fronts. the hope and positivity that a new Then everything changed. The From doctors, epidemiologists, decade brings. Rolling up our sleeves, coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic broke herbalists and other health workers we were ready to put in the work out, spreading like wildfire across the to politicians, educators, media required to build our organisations and globe and setting off a chain reaction practitioners and technologists, businesses. We were similarly primed that was felt everywhere – including professionals are weighing in and to implement the resolutions from the in the production of this edition of the offering their expertise to help us 11th BRICS Academic Forum – held BRICS Academic Review. Just as we were through this unprecedented crisis. On in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, in in the throes of putting this publication a global scale, we have seen nations September last year – dealing with together, the situation forced a change in collaborating to halt the spread of the the following key issues: financing for editorial direction to include substantial virus while a vaccine is being sought. development; trade and investment; coverage of the pandemic. The subject of vaccine development is close to the hearts of BRICS- affiliated researchers and academics. At the 10th BRICS Summit held in The Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2018, leaders agreed to establish a state- broke out, spreading like wildfire across of-the-art BRICS Vaccine Research Centre in Johannesburg. The Covid-19 the globe and setting off a chain reaction outbreak has brought even greater urgency to achieving this resolution. that was felt everywhere – including in the It also highlights the need for a co- ordinated approach to be taken among production of this edition of the BRICS BRICS member states when it comes to vaccine development, ensuring that Academic Review. each country’s strengths are utilised for the benefit of this bloc and of the world at large.
4 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW The theme for the event is ‘BRICS’ new vision for a better world’, and it features a line-up of plenary and panel sessions that Another major initiative that is are sure to generate a host of ideas and strengthening the BRICS bond is the Emergency Assistance Programme Loan potential solutions to the dramatic changes spearheaded by the New Development Bank to help member states combat that Covid-19 has wrought on governments Covid-19. The fast-tracking of this facility demonstrates that unity and co- and citizens worldwide. operation among the BRICS countries is actionable and practical. Certainly, closing ranks and ensuring the safety and wellness of BRICS citizens will be at the top of the agenda as a global crisis manager, world bodies in managing this crisis to date, with at this year’s BRICS Academic Forum, are able to unite and determine “rules of the presidency showing the calibre due to take place (most likely virtually) the game” that meet the interests of all of leadership that has inspired the in Moscow from 20 to 22 May. The nations, not just Western ones. confidence of its citizens by reassuring us theme for the upcoming event is The call for global solidarity has that the pandemic can be brought under “BRICS’ new vision for a better world”, been further echoed by the World control and taking the requisite action. and it features a line-up of plenary and Health Organisation’s (WHO) That said, the socio-economic fallout panel sessions that are sure to generate director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom from Covid-19 is deeply concerning, a host of ideas and potential solutions to Ghebreyesus. “This virus is dangerous,” carrying with it the very real risk that the dramatic changes that Covid-19 he said recently. “It exploits cracks the country will be plunged further into has wrought on governments and between us. We need global solidarity a cycle of unemployment, inequality citizens worldwide. that’s cemented on genuine national and poverty, from which it will take The plenary session titled “A Shifting unity. Without national unity and global years to recover. Our ongoing survey World Order and the Emergence solidarity, trust us, the worst is yet conducted around four South African of a New Governance Paradigm: ahead of us. Let’s prevent this tragedy.” townships (in Alexandra, Diepsloot, Challenges and Opportunities for the On the home front, help in fighting Khayelitsha and Umlazi) has provided a BRICS” is particularly pertinent now, the pandemic has come from an old glimpse of the devastation being caused, when the current international order is ally. South Africa and Cuba have close with the burden of disease being carried experiencing so much economic turmoil ties as Cuba was instrumental in the by women – as usual – and uncertainty. For the BRICS bloc, fight against apartheid rule in South and sharpening the crisis around in addition to the persistent challenges Africa. The relationship has endured, unemployment and inequality. that need addressing are emerging ones and now more than 200 Cuban doctors This is not the first time South demanding immediate attention, not least have arrived on our shores to offer Africa has faced a seemingly the gridlock in the international monetary their expertise in curbing the spread insurmountable challenge. The last and trade system reforms. It will be of Covid-19. They are among 1 200 such challenge was against the ruthless fascinating to listen to the perspectives healthcare workers sent to battle Covid-19 machinery of the apartheid era. We of Academic Forum delegates on the role in 22 countries that have requested help met that challenge with the help of our that BRICS member states should play from the communist state, whose much- friends, just as we will meet this one – in shaping a new model for multilateral admired healthcare system has helped the again, with the help of our friends. global governance. Caribbean island deal with the virus more If anything is clear about the chaos effectively than most. that now reigns in international affairs, Requesting Cuba’s assistance PROF SARAH MOSOETSA it is that BRICS provides an opportunity during this crisis is one of a number of Chief Executive Officer to consolidate the views of non-Western sure-footed steps the South African National Institute for the Humanities countries on the global agenda. A level of government has taken to deal with and Social Sciences (NIHSS), global solidarity unprecedented in modern the pandemic. As the WHO itself has custodians of the South African times is possible if, with BRICS acting recognised, South Africa has done well BRICS Think Tank (SABTT)
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 5 ED’S NOTE
VUYO DLAMINI faces a different challenge, depending themselves and their families against on the shape of the curve. It’s all about Covid-19. The important role that those coming up with the most effective in the humanities and social sciences field The New Normal strategy to preserve life and prevent a can play was affirmed by Dr Bonginkosi spiking curve, which would indicate Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, an exponential rise in infections – and Science and Innovation, when he said: “At fatalities. a deeper level, we also look to our social These are trying times for all of scientists, philosophers, historians, artists T humanity. It makes the establishment and others to help us rebuild our sense of of a BRICS Vaccine Research Centre nationhood, our independence and our – which has been on the cards for a few ability to take our place proudly in the years now – all the more urgent. The community of nations.” There are balls of scented and colourful centre, set to be built in Johannesburg, Ignorance creates fear. It is okay to playdough splattered all over the floor was on the agenda at the 11th BRICS say: “I don’t know much about this as my now home-schooled toddler summit, held in November last year in topic; let me ask my colleague.” We enjoys a lesson in fine motor skills Brasilia, capital of Brazil. At the two- need each other more than ever, not development. I’m by the kitchen counter day gathering, President Ramaphosa just professionally but also in relation just a few metres away, putting together told delegates: “We must continue to to our common humanity. This sense the Round-up section (8-13) of this collectively work together to implement of community was palpable at the fifth issue. I’m working from a farm on the the important initiatives that we have instalment of the Humanities and outskirts of Mazini, eSwatini (formerly agreed on at past summits and during Social Sciences Awards, which took known as Swaziland); it was meant this one, including the creation of the place on 12 March at Constitution to have been my lockdown location physical BRICS Vaccine Research Hill in Johannesburg. The event was for 21 days but will continue to be my Centre in South Africa.” held three days before the president home until President Cyril Ramaphosa A vaccine is what is needed to stop declared the country to be in a announces the lifting of the lockdown the Covid-19 pandemic in its tracks, national state of disaster. in South Africa. and such a centre could go a long A heartfelt thank you to those who The President has been commended for way in helping to find it. Also, seeing came out to honour the creatives, his decisive leadership, which has helped Africa getting involved in formulating the academics and the authors who South Africa to “flatten the curve” in an effective treatment would make were recognised for their outstanding terms of controlling the number of people citizens proud and less sceptical of contributions. In hindsight, your infected by the Covid-19 coronavirus. all the precautionary measures being presence seems more like a sacrifice. Almost 500km away, in his home implemented. It is possible that we won’t be able to studio, this journal’s art director is Who is better positioned to give congregate like this for a long time to selecting images from all five BRICS people credible information – backed up come – which makes the evening all member states showing the great lengths by research – about what is really going the more memorable. We hope that you that each country has gone to in order to on – than scholars? This community enjoyed the awards ceremony and were ensure that the number of casualties of needs to share their knowledge about the inspired by all this talent living amongst this health war are kept to a minimum. virus and dispel the many myths and fake us. We showcase some key moments of Further afield, in Russia, resides the news reports that have been circulating. the night in the Events Gallery feature contributor of our Insight feature (page Scientists, researchers, epidemiologists (page 74-78). 36-38), Vladimir Korovkin. Unlike and other health professionals also need May we all get to gather again soon. South Africans, Russians can shop for to continuously communicate with the In the meantime, focus on washing their favourite vodka from the local public and spell out the facts regarding this hands, keeping your distance and staying supermarket. Each country has its own virus. That way, people will be equipped safe and well. You can pop us a tweet or way of dealing with the pandemic and with knowledge about how best to protect an email and tell us your thoughts.
6 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW TIME TO TALK? We’d love to hear from you!
@BRICSAcademicRe
@BRICSAcademicReview SABTT signs MoU OVERVIEW with NCR BRICS INSIGHTS, NEWS AND COMMENTARY ABOUT BRICS The South African BRICS T Think Tank (SABTT) and Russia’s National COMPILED BY VUYO DLAMINI Committee for BRICS Research (NCR BRICS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing relations between the two think tanks and developing academic and cultural exchanges in the areas
of research and education, along with other activities. The two have agreed to collaborate in the development of track II activities. HIGHLIGHTS Areas of cooperation will include projects offered by either think tank which are felt to be desirable and feasible for developing and strengthening relations between SABTT and NCR BRICS. However, any specific project to be established will be subject to mutual consent, the availability of funds and the approval of each think tank. Such projects may include:
• joint research projects • joint educational projects NIHSS signs MoU with CASS • joint conferences • exchange of experts • internship programmes The National Institute for the projects, carried out by scholars from • joint cultural projects T Humanities and Social Sciences both the NIHSS and the CASS; • other joint activities as agreed upon (NIHSS) and the Chinese • Co-sponsoring and organising joint by both SABTT and NCR BRICS. Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) have conferences, symposia and workshops signed a Memorandum of Understanding on topics of mutual interest; ABOUT NCR BRICS (MoU) to strengthen and facilitate • Fostering the exchange of publications The National Committee for BRICS collaboration between the NIHSS and and academic information; and Research was established as a non- CASS in matters of common interest, • Promoting other activities that will profit partnership by the Russkiy Mir and to promote cooperation to enhance enhance the abovementioned goals. Foundation in collaboration with the mutual understanding and friendship Russian Academy of Sciences, with between the parties in particular and the In promoting these activities, the support from the Ministry of Foreign two countries in general. NIHSS and the CASS will focus Affairs of the Russian Federation. on topics of mutual interest in the This was done pursuant to the plan of AREAS OF ACTIVITIES humanities and social sciences. action approved by the President of the To promote academic exchange and Russian Federation for implementation collaboration, both the NIHSS and the ABOUT CASS of agreements reached at the BRICS CASS will consult in developing such The Chinese Academy of Social Summit in Sanya, China. The primary activities by doing the following: Sciences (CASS), established in 1977, goal of this committee is to promote • Encouraging visits by research fellows is the highest academic institution and Russia’s position and its expert from one party to the other for the national research centre in the fields of assessments internationally, and to purposes of engaging in research or the humanities and social sciences, as coordinate the activities of leading other educational activities; well as a top think-tank of the People’s research organisations and experts • Encouraging collaborative research Republic of China. regarding BRICS.
8 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW New Development Bank’s Africa Regional Centre UPDATE
About: Ms Vivian Ramathuba is the senior professional at the NDB Africa Regional Centre
Ms Vivian Ramathuba provided an update M on the work of the New Development Bank (NDB) since the Board of Governors met in April 2019 in Cape Town. She pointed to the NDB’s potential role in working with the Business Council. The next round of funding approval would consider the new strategy document, still focusing on hard infrastructure projects such as energy, transport and urban development, as well as soft infrastructure. Left to right: Having engaged with civil society organisations Mr Bruno Carvalho Arruda, Mr Dmitry Zudin, Dr. Philani Mthembu, (CSOs), the NDB will start looking at how the bank may Ms Auriel Niemack, Prof. Nirmala become more inclusive through its interface with CSOs, Gopal, Prof Siphamandla Zondi, particularly when it comes to improving communication. Mr Ashraf Patel Symposium The opening of regional offices has also been fast- tracked because they are noted as key institutional About: Mr Bruno Carvalho meetings, which included ministers from offices that may facilitate the number of projects that Arruda is the point of the following sectors: foreign affairs, are proposed and considered bankable. At present, contact for Economic economy, health, technology and innovation, the Shanghai, Johannesburg and Brasilia offices Affairs, Agriculture and communications, environment, agriculture, have been opened, and there are plans to open the BRICS at the Embassy of energy, culture, labour, trade and national offices in Russia and India this year. South Africa is still Brazil in Pretoria, South Africa security. experiencing challenges in contributing to the project The summit priorities included: preparation facility, but is working at improving on this. Summary of Keynote Address strengthening cooperation in science, The loans have been approved to 2021. Initially, South During Brazil’s 2019 chairship, the five technology and innovation; enhancing Africa received 8% approval; now it has been increased BRICS countries were clear about their cooperation on the digital economy; to 18% approval, to the value of US$2.2 billion. The role intentions to make cooperation more invigorating cooperation on the fight of the Africa Regional Centre (ARC) on the ground inclusive by supporting the spirit of against transnational crime, especially has been to interact with government departments cooperation among business, scholars, against organised crime, money laundering and state-owned enterprises in preparing to identify media and civil society organisations, and drug trafficking; and encouraging and submit bankable projects. The ARC has targeted as well as building upon government the rapprochement between the New a further US$1.6 billion, which has been pledged by interactions. Brazil, under the theme of the Development Bank (NDB) and the BRICS the NDB, but the preparation of projects from initial summit – “BRICS: Economic Growth for Business Council. The summit Declaration and submission needs to be improved upon as a point an Innovative Future” – aimed to promote other approved documents are a collective of priority. deliverables that would have a direct impact position on what BRICS has to say to the Going forward, it is the long-term intention of the on the lives of societies and to emphasise world. Moreover, it emphasised four key areas bank to sign new membership and generate more and maximise what BRICS means to all that are paramount to the BRICS partnership: business and more delivery. This is a key role of the people, while emphasising the equal role 1) strengthening and reforming the ARC: to service the African continent and act as a and participation of the BRICS countries. multilateral system; liaison point with the NDB. It is important for South This is inclusive of the BRICS outreach 2) fostering closer economic and financial Africa to strengthen the market; South Africa and programme, which started with South cooperation; the regional office use both the South African Rand Africa inviting the African continent in 3) noting the importance of regional issues and US Dollar currencies, and South Africa will be 2013. During 2019, the Heads of State met in the greater geopolitical context; and launching its South African Rand/ZAR10 billion twice; once informally in Osaka, Japan, on 4) refining intra-BRICS cooperation. bond on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, which the margins of the G20 Summit, and again, will increase local participation. The ARC and the at the annual 11th Summit from 13-14 The official handover of the chairship to NDB have partnered with the Business Council and November 2019, held in Brasilia. Russia took place from 12-13 December at together, have completed their first roadshow in the As a summary of events, the Brazilian the sixth meeting of BRICS Sherpas/Sous- Western Cape. chairship convened 16 ministerial-level Sherpas. Source https://www.igd.org.za/
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 9 OVERVIEW
BRICS CHINA
New Development Bank issues Coronavirus Combating Bond raising RMB 5 billion
On 2 April 2020, the New improving the resilience of the public The high-quality final order book, with O Development Bank (NDB) health sector in the three provinces. notable participation from central successfully issued a three- “Since the outbreak of the Novel banks and official institutions, is a year RMB Coronavirus Combating Coronavirus Disease -19 (Covid-19) in testament to the strength of the New Bond in the China Interbank Bond December 2019, the lives of people Development Bank’s credit quality. Market. The Bank raised RMB 5 billion, and the economy have been heavily “We are pleased with the strong garnered interest from a high-quality impacted,” said Mr Leslie Maasdorp, demand, pricing and the overall diversified investor base both onshore NDB vice-president and CFO. “NDB exceptional result of this RMB in mainland China, as well as offshore. is fully committed to supporting Coronavirus Combating Bond in The bond was priced at the lower our member countries during this the China Interbank Bond Market. end of the announced pricing range, period of crisis to fight the spread This RMB bond issue is strategically and the transaction represents the of Covid-19 and stands ready to relevant to our mandate of promoting largest-ever RMB-denominated bond provide the necessary financing to sustainable development and as well as the first RMB-denominated meet this objective.” deepens our commitment to raise Coronavirus Combating Bond issued The Coronavirus Combating Bond funding in the local currency of our by the Multilateral Development Bank met with extraordinary demand from member countries. The funding from in China. investors. The final order book was in NDB will specifically provide much- The aim of this bond issue is to excess of RMB 15 billion, more than needed emergency support during support the Chinese government three times oversubscribed. The bond this period of crisis in our member in the financing of public health distribution was well balanced between countries, who are all facing new expenditure in Hubei, Guangdong onshore and offshore investors. economic challenges and human and Henan provinces that were hit the The distribution by geography was hardship,” said Mr Maasdorp. hardest by Covid-19. The proceeds as follows: China mainland – 41%, Industrial and Commercial Bank of the bond will be fully utilised to Europe, the Middle East and Africa of China Limited acted as the lead finance the RMB 7 billion Emergency (EMEA) – 45%, Asia-Pacific countries underwriter and bookrunner. Bank of Assistance Program Loan to the (APAC) (excl. China mainland) – 14%. China Limited, Agricultural Bank of People’s Republic of China approved The bond investor distribution by China Limited and China Construction by the Board of Directors of the Bank investor type: central banks/official Bank Limited acted as the joint lead on 19 March 2020. This loan will institutions – 54%, banks/bank underwriters for the bond. contribute in a material fashion to treasuries – 45%, securities – 1%. Source: www.ndb.int
10 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Covid-19 Leaders forge their legacies in times of crisis. Here’s a look at what some have said about Covid-19 António Guterres Dr Zwelini Mkhize United Nations Secretary-General Minister of Health, South Africa
“All efforts must be aimed at the common enemy, as “There can never be a perfect plan in a battle. we brace for the expected spread of the pandemic Ground experience will refine our actions. Academic in Africa. This is in no way of Africa’s making. But, debates have their place, but during this ground as with the climate crisis, the African continent could offensive we will entertain advice that refines and end up suffering the greatest impacts.” improves our effectiveness. The country’s future will depend on our swift, coordinated actions.”
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Epidemiologist and WHO’s technical lead World Health Organisation Director-General for Covid-19 “Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or “We are all in this together. Trust in science and carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause know that the world is working hard on a vaccine unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the Covid-19 and treatments. Keep being kind to one another and fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and always find joy in your days.” death. Describing the situation as a pandemic does not change the WHO’s assessment of the threat posed by this virus.”
BRICS CCI Aayog and recognised by the Women’s Wing and Honorary advisory and support services. announces launch United Nations. While the Advisor BRICS CCI. It will be our endeavour to of women’s wing BRICS nations will remain A one-stop knowledge create a supportive ecosystem at the centre of all activities, hub for women entrepreneurs to enable women to realise their CCI BRICS the chamber has taken up globally, shetatwork.com will be full potential, which in turn will The BRICS Chamber its credo to reach out to and the knowledge partner for the help in generating employment T of Commerce and enable young entrepreneurs BRICS CCI Women’s Wing. and growing the economy.” Industry (BRICS from other friendly nations and An eminent advisory board Source: www.outlookindia.com CCI) has announced the launch bring stakeholders associated comprising eminent female of the BRICS CCI Women’s with women entrepreneurship professionals from various Wing with a focus on woman across key countries under countries is also being set up. empowerment initiatives and one platform. Announcing the launch, Dr policies across geographies. The BRICS CCI Women’s B.B.L. Madhukar, Director- The objective of the women’s Wing will be led by Shabana General, BRICS CCI, said: wing is to create an enabling Nasim, Governing Body “We are very pleased to support system for female Member, BRICS CCI, announce the launch of our entrepreneurs and professionals Shormishtha Ghosh, Director: exclusive wing for enterprising across geographies. Business Advisory, BRICS women entrepreneurs and Founded in 2012, BRICS CCI and Ruby Sinha, professionals looking at creating CCI is empanelled with NITI Convenor, BRICS CCI a global presence through our
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 11 Covid-19 Covid-19 FIGURES
SOUTH AFRICA
22 583 Confirmed Cases 11 100 Recoveries 429 Deaths
Tracking the impact on BRICS While most cases W of the Covid-19 coronavirus have been reported in the United States, Europe and China, the virus is BRAZIL spreading rapidly across the world and other BRICS member 365 213 Confirmed Cases countries such as Brazil, 149 911 Recoveries Russia, India and South Africa 22 746 Deaths have not been left unscathed. The confirmed worldwide cases for the virus have surpassed four million with the current figure being at 5 513 975. The increase in new reported cases around the world has led the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare the coronavirus a global pandemic. The death toll has risen globally to a whopping 346 873.
12 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW RUSSIA
353 427 Confirmed Cases 118 798 Recoveries 3 633 Deaths
CHINA
82 985 Confirmed Cases 78 268 Recoveries 4 634 Deaths
INDIA
139 237 Confirmed Cases 57 745 Recoveries 4 024 Deaths
At the time of going to print, all five member states have collectively confirmed 963 445 coronavirus cases and 35 466 deaths.
Stats sourced from www.worldometers.info (25 May 2020)
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 13 CRITIQUE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Thekiso Anthony Lefifi is a financial and business news reporter with Radio 702 and Cape Talk 567.
Coronavirus: How Are BRICS Countries Responding to the Economic Crisis?
THEKISO ANTHONY LEFIFI by BRICS could have entailed stopping Research by Swiss bank UBS shows international travel between member that the world’s second-largest economy states earlier on and implementing a shed approximately 80 million jobs in workable plan to share resources. Instead, the first quarter of this year. However, T the economies of these nation states have Tao Wang, head of economic research been derailed by the virus. at UBS, estimates that job losses may Once the world’s fastest-growing narrow to less than 50 million by the end economy, China’s gross domestic of the first half of this year. The response of the five-member product (GDP) contracted by 6.8% Brazil’s government, which has BRICS bloc to the outbreak of the novel in the first quarter of 2020, according downplayed the threat of the pandemic, Covid-19 coronavirus, and its subsequent to the country’s National Bureau announced plans in mid-March to rapid spread across the globe, has been of Statistics. This, as a result of the inject US$30 billion into the economy disjointed. An agreed strategy to contain pandemic. to combat the devastating effects of the the virus before it became a pandemic The negative growth marks China’s coronavirus. Economy Minister Paulo would have been welcome; it might have first annual quarterly decline since 1992 Guedes is optimistic that the South gone some way in helping each of these – and the economic decline is expected American country will grow by 2.5% nations to stave off the economic malaise to continue into the second quarter. this year, despite a growing number and fatalities that have since resulted. Authorities are expected to come up with of economists forecasting that Brazil Examples of a co-ordinated strategy a stimulus package to boost the economy. will slip into a recession if the country’s
14 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Covid-19
A municipal worker wearing full protective gear as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus sanitises an area in the Favela of Babilonia, south of the city Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on April 18, 2020. Experts believe that had the economic ties between the five BRICS nation been cumbersome fiscal rules are not relaxed. firmer, they would have been better able As things currently stand, Brazil’s 2020 primary budget deficit is fast approaching to mobilise to fight the pandemic. US$96 billion, or 7% of GDP. South Africa’s economy was already in a technical recession when it got hit by Covid-19, and it is bracing itself for Some BRICS member nations have based consultancy Capital Economics. an even deeper recession. Organisations been reluctant to approach Western Experts forecast Russia’s economy such as Business Unity South Africa financial institutions like the IMF to drop near zero annual GDP growth have warned that Africa’s most advanced because of the stringent conditions that while the most conservative economist economy will sink into a depression. accompany their loans, saying a better say the best-case scenario would be a drop Ratings agency Moody’s recently cut option lies in seeking assistance from the to 0.5%. Local economists predicted that South Africa’s sovereign credit rating BRICS New Development Bank (NDB). the GDP could shrink by up to 9% by to sub-investment grade, meaning the Earlier this month, the NDB said the end of 2020. The unemployment rate country now has a “junk status” rating it was ready and willing to lend South may reach 10% from 0.7% in 2020 due from all three major international ratings Africa US$1 billion (about R19 billion) the Covid-19 pandemic. This means up agencies. Fitch Ratings also changed its – and another US$1 billion later in the to 9 million Russians may suddenly find outlook on South Africa, downgrading it year to further stimulate the economy. themselves without a source of income. to BB from BB+ with a negative outlook. The NDB has lent US$1 billion to China Experts believe that had the economic Finance Minister Mr Tito Mboweni and in the form of an Emergency Assistance ties between the five BRICS nation been his team find themselves in a race against Program Loan, to help the country firmer, they would have been better able time. They are engaging with domestic tackle Covid-19 through the provision to mobilise to fight the pandemic. The and international financiers, such as the of medical supplies and equipment. For grouping is still viewed as more political International Monetary Fund (IMF) now, Mr Mboweni is mulling over the than economic. and the World Bank, to mount a robust idea of approaching the bank but hasn’t The IMF has warned the world to financial response that has now been done so, as he dislikes loans. brace itself for pedestrian economic exacerbated by Covid-19. India has announced a US$23 billion growth this year. “Without doubt, given what we relief package to help the country’s Kristalina Georgieva, managing know since February, Covid-19 will unorganised, informal industry, which director of the IMF, said the coronavirus certainly further deepen the South employs 94% of the population and pandemic hit the world economy when African downturn woes … At this stage, contributes 45% to its overall output. it was already in a fragile state as it was our central scenario is for a deep recession Covid-19 is having a devastating effect weighed down by trade disputes, policy in 2020, followed by a rapid upswing in on the country’s already frail economy. uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. economic growth,” said Mr Mboweni. Given that India’s unemployment rate “The global coronavirus outbreak is In an unprecedented move, Lesetja was already at a 45-year high last year, a crisis that is like no other and poses Kganyago, Governor of the South African experts have warned of an even deeper daunting challenges for policymakers Reserve Bank,, slashed interest rates twice economic crisis. While the IMF has in many emerging market and in one month to 4.25%, with the aim of said that India will remain one of the developing economies (EMDEs), alleviating pressure on consumers and fastest-growing economies in the world, especially where the pandemic keeping the economy going. The central its recent run of economic growth is encounters weak public health systems, bank has forecast that GDP will contract expected to slow to just 1% this year – capacity constraints, and limited by 6.1%, effectively shaving as much as the lowest it has been for over 40 years, policy space to mitigate the outbreak’s R400 billion from the fiscus. according to research from the London- repercussions,” Georgieva said. Photo by Fabio Teixeira/NurPhoto via Getty Images Teixeira/NurPhoto Fabio Photo by
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 15 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gerhard Erasmus is an Emeritus Professor from the Faculty of Law, Stellenbosch University. As a Tralac associate, he now works on the legal and institutional aspects of international UPFRONT trade and regional integration.
The legal basis of national This is no longer the case. The South emergency measures African Constitution of 1996 provides, Governments invoke different types of firstly, that the Constitution is the powers to deal with emergencies and supreme law of the land, that law or disasters. In the context of the present conduct inconsistent with it is invalid, coronavirus pandemic, US President and that all constitutional obligations Donald Trump, for example, invoked must be fulfilled. It provides for a emergency powers dormant since the detailed Bill of Rights and contains 1950s to force General Motors to carefully drafted provisions on when
PROF GERHARD ERASMUS speed up the manufacturing of medical and how basic freedoms may be limited
ventilators for use in hospitals. India’s and when a state of emergency may Covid-19 and the central bank cut its benchmark interest be declared. It does not provide for legal measures rate to 4.4%, its lowest ever. a separate category called martial The best-known example of the law, which traditionally involves the employed to deal cluster of powers typically invoked by imposition of military control over with the crisis governments to deal with emergencies civilian life. is called a “state of emergency”. This In South Africa a state of emergency is a situation in which “a government is may be declared only in terms of an Act empowered to perform actions or impose of Parliament, and only when “the life of policies that it would normally not be the nation is threatened by war, invasion, T permitted to undertake. A government general insurrection, disorder, natural can declare such a state during a natural disaster or other public emergency; and the disaster, medical pandemic/epidemic, civil declaration is necessary to restore peace and unrest, or armed conflict. Such declarations order.” Any competent court may decide The setting alert citizens to change their normal on the validity of a declaration of a state In this Trade Brief we look at the legal behaviour and order government agencies to of emergency; any extension thereof, or principles that could apply to some of implement emergency plans.” any legislation enacted, or other action the measures taken by governments to States of emergency can also be used taken, in consequence of a declaration of cope with the Covid-19 global health for illegitimate purposes and need to be a state of emergency. crisis. They range from announcing clearly defined. The abuse of emergency The State of Emergency Act, 1997 states of emergency (or “national powers for political purposes has been a governs the declaration of a state of disasters”) and closing borders, to the worldwide phenomenon. emergency by the President of South stricter regulation of trade in essential South Africa is a good case study for Africa. The President has the power to medical equipment. discussing the norms that should apply make emergency regulations “necessary National emergency measures are to national emergency powers. Under or expedient” to restore peace and order necessary as first order steps. However, South Africa’s apartheid regime, states and end the emergency. There are also much more needs to be done to deal of emergency were used to suppress other laws which can be used in difficult with the present global disaster. political dissent and as a pretext for times, such as the Disaster Management Whether export restrictions serve suspending individual rights and Act 57 of 2002. a useful purpose, is another matter. freedoms. An old Roman Law principle, On 15 March 2020, South African Certain multilateral law principles may salus reipublicae suprema lex (the welfare Cooperative Governance and Traditional be invoked to justify export restrictions, of the people is the supreme law), and Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini- but they will have detrimental specific Acts of Parliament were invoked Zuma declared a National State of Disaster consequences on disaster relief for that purpose. In the former South in Government Gazette 43096, citing the elsewhere. Export restrictions have Africa, parliament was “sovereign” and “magnitude and severity of the Covid-19 been designed for “normal” times and controlled by the ruling party. There was outbreak which has been declared a are ultimately unsuitable for dealing no supreme constitution then to control global pandemic...”. On the same day, in with the present crisis. “emergency” powers. an address to the nation, President Cyril
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The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma, briefs the media on the details National emergency measures are of government interventions in various sectors of the departmental portfolios on necessary as first order steps. However, Covid-19 at DIRCO Media Centre on March 16, 2020 in Pretoria, South Africa. much more needs to be done to deal with
Ramaphosa announced the declared the present global disaster. national disaster following a special Cabinet meeting. The recent measures announced as the government’s response to Covid-19 a disastrous event occurs or threatens before in South Africa. have been promulgated in terms of to occur, the National Centre must A state of national disaster lasts the Disaster Management Act 57 of assess the magnitude and severity of for three months, if not extended or
2002. This Act provides for a National the situation and determine whether cancelled. Section 27(5) of the Disaster
Disaster Management Centre, and an a disaster exists in terms of this Act. Management Act provides that a integrated and coordinated disaster It must classify the disaster as a local, national state of disaster lapses three management system, including national, provincial or national disaster and months after it has been declared. It may provincial and municipal disaster resources must be made available. also be terminated by the minister before management centres and volunteers. The Specific measures are issued to deal it lapses and may be extended for one objective is to “promote an integrated with the disaster at hand and to avoid month at a time before it lapses. and coordinated system of disaster the escalation of the national State Detailed Disaster Management Act management”, with special emphasis of Disaster to a State of Emergency. Regulations have been promulgated on prevention and mitigation. When National disasters have been declared to curb the spread of Covid-19 in
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South Africa. The lockdown measures announced as part of the national state of disaster continue, with detrimental consequences for Southern African regional trade and commerce. Several regional border posts have been closed. All international and domestic flights are prohibited, irrespective of the risk category of the country of origin. Only essential air cargo is allowed. All cross- border road passenger movements will be prohibited for the duration of the lockdown. However, cross-border freight movement for essential goods will continue to and from our neighbouring countries. On 17 March 2020, the Republic of Namibia also declared a state of emergency.
Provisions in international trade agreements These are not normal times. A discussion of legal instruments which could potentially be invoked to restrict the exportation of essential medical equipment (there is no vaccine for Covid-19 yet) should be seen in this light. The present restrictions on the exportation of medical equipment (such as ventilators) used for treating patients affected by the coronavirus, to the extent that they do apply, suggest desperate local measures in order to be able to cope with urgent conditions A view of a deserted Sandton City during in national hospitals, not a calculated the coronavirus lockdown imposed in reasons. In rules-based trade trade policy. The EU has, for example, South Africa. arrangements, measures taken under taken steps to limit the exportation exception clauses are, as a consequence, of medical equipment outside its justiciable. It is possible for affected membership and has justified this State Parties to invoke the relevant measure as necessary “to protect our obligations to ensure that the State dispute settlement mechanism to ensure health workers, who are in the first line of Parties to such agreements guarantee the that the applicable norms are complied defence, against the virus”. free movement of goods, services, capital with. There have been several WTO What follows below is a general and labour across national borders. The cases to this effect. sketch of legal provisions in trade deeper the integration, the more detailed The classical exception clause is Article agreements potentially relevant to the obligations of the Member States. XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs the issues examined here. It is not These agreements also provide for and Trade (GATT). The relevant part suggested that formal disputes should exceptions. When a State Party or provides: “Subject to the requirement that be considered or will be declared. This Member of an organisation regulating such measures are not applied in a manner pandemic is a global one. Individual trade among nations faces an which would constitute a means of arbitrary state measures (even if they are “emergency”, or when certain actions are or unjustifiable discrimination between compatible with exception clauses in permitted under specific circumstances, countries where the same conditions prevail, or international trade agreements) are the government in question should be a disguised restriction on international trade, not adequate and cannot provide the able to impose the necessary measures. nothing in this Agreement shall be construed necessary answers. Exception clauses strike a balance to prevent the adoption or enforcement by International trade and economic between legitimate needs and the danger any Member of measures necessary to protect integration agreements provide for of abusing exceptions for protectionist human, animal or plant life or health.”
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The measure taken must be publicly Index: “The Panel recalled that previous announced and should be published in panels had established that Article XX is the relevant official gazette. a limited and conditional exception from Most WTO cases involving the obligations under other provisions of the
interpretation of Article XX are about General Agreement, and not a positive rule import restrictions, but Article XX establishing obligations in itself. Therefore, measures can also provide for export the practice of panels has been to interpret restrictions. If a Member State would Article XX narrowly, to place the burden on want to restrict exports and can the party invoking Article XX to justify its show that the exportation of medical invocation, and not to examine Article XX equipment is necessary in order to cope exceptions unless invoked.” with a health crisis, such restrictions The restrictions imposed in order to could fall under this exception. WTO cope with Covid-19 include measures cases confirm that it is within the affecting inter alia tourism and the authority of a WTO Member to identify hospitality industries, as well as the the public health objectives it seeks to cross-border movement of natural achieve, as well as the level of protection persons. Different modes of trade in that it wants to obtain, through the services are thus affected. The General policy it chooses to adopt. However, Agreement on Trade in Services (the Members are bound to implement these “GATS”) also has a General Exceptions
objectives through measures consistent clause stating that Member States can with the requirements in Article XX. impose measures “necessary to protect The exceptional measures for which human, animal or plant life or health”. Article XX is invoked, must also be WTO Member States may (under “necessary” to fulfil the policy objective. the GATS) also take actions considered The meaning of the word ‘‘necessary’’ “necessary for the protection of its essential has been clarified in case law and refers security interests: ... taken in time of war or to a range of considerations. The term other emergency in international relations necessary is not limited to what is ...”. Article XXI GATT is the equivalent “indispensable” or “of absolute necessity” GATT provision dealing with national or “inevitable”. It involves a process security and provides: “Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed... to prevent any contracting party from taking any action which it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests... States of emergency can also be used taken in time of war or other emergency in international relations...”. for illegitimate purposes and need to be The first requirement for invoking Article 18(2) of the SACU Agreement clearly defined. The abuse of emergency flows from the text itself: the domestic health measure and the export powers for political purposes has been a restriction must be based on national worldwide phenomenon. laws and regulations for the protection of health of humans. The necessity requirement, though not explicitly stated, seems to be implied: the permitted national laws and regulations The requirements in the preamble of weighing and balancing a series of are only those adopted for the protection (chapeau) to this Article prohibit factors, but ultimately an exception is of health of humans. arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination strictly interpreted. It is not very likely that Article 18 (restrictive measures must be general, The onus will be on the State invoking of the SACU Agreement will generate not exclusive), or a disguised restriction the exception in Article XX to show disputes around the present pandemic. on international trade. Of the latter that its export restriction is necessary South Africa has not banned the it has been observed that it is “the in order to deal with the health threat exportation of medicines or medical application of the measure and not the at hand. As recalled in the discussion equipment in neighbouring countries, measure itself that needed to be examined”. or Article XX GATT in the Analytical SACU is a well-integrated commercial
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South African soldiers are seen at a checkpoint managed by the South declaring inter-state disputes involving Trade is SADC’s General Exceptions African Police Service on the N1 trade agreements. clause. It is, for all practical purposes, highway in Johannesburg, on 24 April Private parties would be entitled a repetition of Article XX GATT. 2020, as part of measures taken to fight (if they have the necessary standing) This Protocol also contains a Security
the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic to apply to domestic courts to review Exception and a provision on Sanitary
caused by the novel coronavirus. export restrictions on constitutional and Phytosanitary Measures. Article 5 grounds, such as the right to equal deals with the elimination of export treatment and even the right to life. duties. Member States shall not apply space, with South African retailers and Administrative law requirements any export duties on goods for export to service providers operating all over the (rationality and natural justice other Member States. SACU Common Customs Area, and rules) will also be relevant in such However, this Article “shall not prevent the neighbouring populations are small applications. It is unlikely that the any Member State from applying export compared to South Africa’s. measures recently announced in duties necessary to prevent erosion of any SACU does not have an operational South Africa would be susceptible to prohibitions or restrictions, which apply to
tribunal, but the SACU Member constitutional challenge. They appear exports outside the Community, provided States are all WTO members. Disputes to be fully compliant with the national that no less favourable treatment is granted about impermissible export bans could constitutions. The enforcers of these to Member States than to third countries”. presumably be filed under WTO rules measures (including the police and the The Protocol on Trade in Goods of but this is extremely unlikely. The military) should obviously act within the African Continental Free Trade SACU Member States have never done the parameters of the law. Area (AfCFTA), which is in force
so before; there is no culture of formally Article 9 of the SADC Protocol on but not yet operational, contains a
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Security Exception clause, a provision and a lack of scientific evidence about Measures such as physical distancing on balance of payments and one on the nature and infection features of the and lockdowns are not practical in
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. disease. This causes panic. However, societies where informal trade keeps The latter refers to the relevant Annex, public health officials, including the people alive and where thousands live which provides, in Article 3 thereof: “In World Health Organisation, and trade in crowded spaces. Only a few can work the preparation, adoption, and application experts have warned that hoarding from home. of SPS measures, State Parties shall be could prevent supplies from reaching What began as a health crisis, is guided by the provisions of the WTO the most-needed areas and reduce now also a global economic crisis. Agreement on the Application of Sanitary incentives for companies to ramp People and businesses around the world and Phytosanitary Measures.” up production. Tedros Adhanom are affected. The slowdown in major Article 26 of the AfCFTA Protocol Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, economies will see global demand fall. on Trade in Goods deals with General has said that governments should There will be a decline in commodity Exceptions. It repeats the preamble and ease restrictions on the export and prices, with oil exporters directly basic elements of Article XX GATT. distribution of medical supplies. “This is affected. Developing nations are bound It does, however, add two additional a question of solidarity. This cannot be to be affected in a major way. exceptions. The State Parties may take solved by WHO alone, or one industry measures “involving restrictions on alone,” he said. “It requires all of us Conclusion: This pandemic exports of domestic materials necessary to working together to ensure all countries is different ensure essential quantities of such materials can protect the people who protect the Crises do not last forever, but they can have lasting consequences. These depend, in the case of Covid-19, on what lessons are learned (and how fast) The present crisis is exacerbated by and how individual governments and the international community respond. the scarcity of essential medical equipment One obvious lesson is that although the initial responsibility to protect and a lack of scientific evidence about the health of the nation lies with the government in question, international the nature and infection features of the cooperation is vital to secure longer- term safety. Another lesson is about disease. This causes panic. the need for a new discourse and different policies. Deadly viruses (and climate change) do not respect national sovereignty or border controls. A health crisis of the Covid-19 to a domestic processing industry during rest of us.” Previous campaigns (against proportions is sui generis because it is periods when the domestic price of such malaria and HIV/Aids) have shown that a global crisis. It cannot be tackled by materials is held below the world price as it takes a coordinated global effort to invoking standard exception clauses and part of a governmental stabilisation plan”. roll back a global scourge. through unilateral state measures. The State Parties may also invoke There will hopefully be humanitarian National governments need the this provision when “essential to the assistance on an adequate scale when necessary powers and the means to acquisition or distribution of foodstuffs this virus hits Africa in full force. deal with sudden emergencies. These or any other products in general or local However, the necessary measures powers should be adequate and be short supply, provided that any such should be adopted as a matter of exercised in a rational and non- measures shall be consistent with the urgency. It has been observed that arbitrary manner. Reliable information principle that all State Parties are entitled it is already “too late to avoid a large and scientific evidence (still lacking in to an equitable share of the international number of deaths, but not too late to avert this instance) are necessary to design supply of such products, and that any such catastrophe. And it is in rich countries’ the measures required to deal with measures, which are inconsistent with interests to think globally as well as disasters such as Covid-19. However, the other provisions of the Protocol shall locally. If Covid-19 is left to ravage the effective domestic policies (such as be discontinued as soon as the conditions emerging world, it will soon spread back to those developed to deal with the Ebola giving rise to them have ceased to exist”. the rich one.” crisis of a few years ago) and specific International cooperation is necessary global emergency assistance measures Policy measures in order to ensure that poor countries should now be the priority. Good The present crisis is exacerbated by the in particular survive the present crisis. governance now becomes appropriate scarcity of essential medical equipment Their healthcare systems cannot cope. global governance.
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 21 AGENDA
DATE: 21 - 23 July 2020 HOST CITY: St Petersburg
22 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW • to strengthen ties in healthcare, including by Priorities of taking joint measures in fighting infectious ANNOUNCEMENT: the Russian and non-infectious diseases; BRICS chairship • to encourage dialogue among the five Due to the measures taken by countries on agriculture and food security; the Coordination Council of in 2020 • to strengthen contacts in the field of the Russian Government to prevention and elimination of consequences control the incidence of the 1. Strengthening multilateral of emergencies and natural disasters. coronavirus infection in the principles in global politics and Russian Federation, as well promoting shared interests of the 3. Cooperation in the cultural as due to the restrictions on BRICS countries in international fora: and humanitarian spheres and official trips abroad imposed • to promote the unifying agenda based on the strengthening people-to-people by the Shanghai Cooperation universally recognised principles and norms contacts: Organisation (SCO) and several of the international law and the interests of all • to develop interparliamentary cooperation; BRICS countries, it was decided states; • to promote cultural cooperation; to postpone the SCO and BRICS • to promote the central role of the United • to enhance cooperation in the field of events planned for March and Nations in international relations; education; April 2020. This decision was • to consolidate collective efforts to respond to • to further develop BRICS Network University made at the interdepartmental global and regional challenges and threats; activities; meeting on holding events • to deepen cooperation between the BRICS • to strengthen youth contacts; of Russia’s Presidency of the countries in countering terrorism, extremism, • to deepen cooperation in sports and hold SCO in 2019−2020 and the corruption, cross-border crime and illicit drug BRICS Games; Russian BRICS chairship in 2020. and arms trafficking; • to promote cooperation within public “The Russian Federation is • to strengthen collaboration in space diplomacy formats; taking all the necessary measures exploration and peaceful use of outer space; • to develop contacts among representatives of to protect the health of its citizens • to continue the dialogue on the security in the the BRICS journalism community. and foreign visitors staying in the use of ICTs and countering cybercrime; country,” said Anton Kobyakov, • to enhance BRICS countries’ coordination Adviser to the Russian President mechanisms in key international fora; and Executive Secretary of • to develop cooperation with partner countries the Organising Committee in the “BRICS Plus” and “Outreach” dialogue for Russia’s Presidency of the formats; (SCO) in 2019−2020 and the • to enhance dialogue on the issues of Russian BRICS chairship in international development cooperation. 2020. “We maintain constant working contacts with the 2. Developing cooperation in trade, Government Coordination economy and finance: Council. I am confident that • to renew the Strategy for BRICS Economic our joint efforts will ensure Partnership; the successful implementation • to facilitate trade and investments between of all the tasks outlined in the the BRICS countries; framework of Russia’s Presidency • to promote the potential of the New of the SCO in 2019−2020 and the Development Bank; Russian BRICS chairship in 2020. • to enhance the BRICS Contingent Reserve As for the postponed events, their Arrangement mechanisms; new dates will be determined by • to develop and integrate BRICS national the Organising Committee on the payment systems; proposals of the relevant Russian • to launch practical activities of BRICS Line agencies with due regard for Women’s Business Alliance; the development of the sanitary • to promote the economic development of the and epidemiological situation in remote areas within BRICS; the world. At the same time, I • to strengthen cooperation among the BRICS would like to note that some events tax, customs and anti-monopoly line agencies; planned for March and April will • to promote cooperation in the field of energy; be conducted in a new format of • to develop cooperation in the digital economy video conference.” and innovations;
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 23 ABOUT THE AUTHORS Danilo Matoso Macedo is an architect and urban planner based in Brasilia. Sylvia Ficher is an architectural historian and professor at the University of Brasilia. BRAZIL
1 (Photo by Freddie Reed/Mirrorpix/Getty Images) (Photo by Freddie
2 DANILO MATOSO MACEDO AND SYLVIA FICHER Brasilia: Preservation of a Modernist City I
In 1956, Brazilian president Juscelino Plan (Plano Piloto) of Brasilia. Kubitschek committed his government A crucial feature of Costa’s proposal to the erection of a new federal capital was a sharp distinction between an in the country’s remote interior, to be administrative civitas of monumental inaugurated before the end of his term of character and the everyday urbs. On office. This constituted a major step toward a monumental axis running east to achieving a two-centuries-old dream of west and lined by a sequence of public spreading the country’s population into the buildings, the Esplanade of Ministries hinterland of Brazil. Through a national abuts the capital’s foremost civic space, competition held the following year, an the Three Power Plaza. Brasilia’s international jury selected the entry by residential quarters – which were meant Lucio Costa (1902 – 1998) for the urban for 500 000 inhabitants and included design of the new city – the so-called Pilot commerce, services, and educational
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4
Brasilia’s completion in three and a half years was praised as an epic feat of self– determination by the Brazilian people.
and health facilities – were conceived 150 000 inhabitants after the inauguration in terms of neighbourhood units and in April 1960. modulated in superblocks along an 1. Brasilia, the planned city that became Brasilia today Brazil’s capital in 1960, photographed on arched north-south freeway. 1 November 1968. This division of the urban fabric Half a century later, Brasilia is the fourth- between the civic space and the residential largest metropolis in the country and the 2. Portrait of Brazilian architect Oscar areas was highly deliberate. It was home of more than two and a half million Niemeyer (1907 – 2012) as he stands in intended to make possible the speedy citizens. Yet fewer than 10% are residents the Palacio da Alvorada. completion of the most prominent civic of the Pilot Plan area. While the original structures to create an emblematic vision nucleus accommodates chiefly the upper 3. Night-time view of the Palacio da of the nation’s new capital. The strategy middle classes, by far the greater portion Alvorada and its reflecting pool, which was effective. For the civitas, world- of the population, covering a wider social highlights a bronze sculpture by Alfredo renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer range, lives in the 27 satellite towns that Ceschiatti. (1907 – 2012) and his team designed the now exist in the Federal District. Most executive, legislative, and judiciary palaces, of these are merged into one extensive 4. The Attorney General and Federal Brasilia’s celebrated icons. The most multi-centred conurbation sprawling Prosecution Office. essential bureaucracy was accommodated from the Pilot Plan toward the southwest, without delay, and the population of the connected by a few expressways. With Federal District quickly jumped to about the exception of some neighbourhoods
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5. Brazil’s Bicameral National Congress is part of the city’s main monuments. The semi-sphere on the left represents the Senate, and the semi-sphere on the right is the Chamber of the Deputies.
6. Federal Senate Plenary Chamber at Brazilian National Congress
7. The Itamaraty Palace (headquarters of the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil).
8. Aerial view of the Cathedral in Brasilia
9. inside of Brasilia Cathedral by architect Oscar Niemeyer. 5
6 teeming with high-rise apartment buildings, dispersion, low densities, and extensive empty lands are the rule. An insufficient mass transportation system, segregation, and neglected public spaces – problems not unusual in metropolitan areas – are much amplified in Brasilia by misguided urban policies. Some of these shortcomings, such as road specialisation and monofunctional zoning, were part and parcel of the Modern Movement ideals, which shaped the urban planning agenda of the 1950s. As a consequence, they are inherent traits of the Pilot Plan and its offspring, the satellite towns, and today they are in urgent need of revision.
7 Legal measures Brasilia was built at a moment when the modernist agenda was under scrutiny; its principles were severely attacked by critics such as Bruno Zevi and Sibyl Moholy- Nagy even before its inauguration. On the other hand, Brasilia’s completion in three and a half years was praised as an epic feat of self-determination by the Brazilian people, as reported by architectural historian Norma Evenson. Brasilia became a monument to its own building, and Oscar Niemeyer’s palaces turned into new symbols of the nation. Albeit more conceptually, Lucio Costa never ceased to defend his work. In 1961, in answer to criticisms about the Pilot
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9 Oscar Niemeyer’s palaces turned into new symbols of the nation. Albeit more conceptually, Lucio Costa never ceased to defend his work.
Plan’s lack of human scale, Costa argued also of other areas of historical interest the way the scales mix with one another that its qualities should be gauged while in the Federal District. However, it determines the character to be maintained considering three different configurations: was Costa’s report, Brasilia Revisited, in different sectors. a monumental scale, a gregarious scale, and reinforcing the four scales as a leitmotif for This local statute was, in fact, meant to a residential scale. Thirteen years later, he preservation, that defined the parameters address UNESCO’s legal requirements added a fourth category: a bucolic scale. for the listing of the city as established for the candidacy of Brasilia as a World In the early 1980s, an inter–institutional in a short local statute in 1987. Although Heritage Site, a title that was awarded group of architects – from local the four scales were initially intended to in December 1987, thus making the government, the national monuments demonstrate that Brasilia was just a town Pilot Plan one of the first modernist sites agency, and the university – made some like any other, they were paradoxically on that list. As the ensemble was still efforts to assure systematic procedures for characterised as defining its uniqueness. incomplete, the International Council of protection not only of the Pilot Plan but Somehow it came to be presumed that Monuments and Sites recommended that
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10
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10. The National Stadium (Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha) in Brasilia.
11. Brasilia museum by Oscar Niemeyer.
12. Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge designed by architect Alexandre Chan.
additional legislation should be passed federal buildings and for expansion of constantly impede commonsense solutions to “ensure the preservation of the urban the city. Moreover, urban policies and to the city’s problems. In the name of creation of Costa and Niemeyer.” Hence, management are left entirely to the heritage, grave mistakes in planning – such a federal statute was issued in 1992 that Federal District administration, which as high-speed freeways that crisscross the enforces the same parameters as the local functions as an independent state with urban fabric dangerously – are defended statute, founded not on a realistic appraisal local political interests. by preservationists, while massive low- of the actual city, but on its original quality housing projects are built at great design and Costa’s four-scale justification. Preservation now distances from the city centre, for the sake Leading to dire consequences, the federal With respect to preservation in Brasilia, of maintaining an unsullied image of the statute consented to proposals for new few buildings are listed individually, and Pilot Plan. buildings by the architects of Brasilia, regulatory protection remains vague, Niemeyer took full advantage of the Costa and Niemeyer, as necessary without detailed guidelines for current provision that allowed him to design complements to the original Pilot Plan. conservation. Combined with the freely the “necessary complements” to the Although the federal government problems that stem from administrative original Pilot Plan. As a result, the last obviously has a prominent presence in disarray, a pervading admiration for 25 years were witness to a series of his Brasilia, there is a lack of consistent the work of Costa and Niemeyer and interventions, each clearly undertaken as guidelines for the maintenance of a reverence for their original designs a new enterprise without reference to the
28 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW 12
that guides governmental agencies and local governing bodies. It would Above and beyond its illustrious core, it define context and balance cultural and social significance with appropriate is a dynamic and pulsating city. policies, providing a road map for the preservation of the capital complex and setting. It would help establish a proper relationship between the Pilot Plan area existing context. One extreme instance Public debate and new proposals, and its surrounding metropolitan areas, was the 2009 proposal (never built) that preferably generated by competitions, are recognising that they are dependent on included a 100-metre obelisk in the also needed to address the monofunctional each other and should be planned as a middle of the Esplanade of Ministries, areas in the centre of the city, to single entity. which fortunately received a negative rehabilitate areas such as the consolidated Brasilia is a showcase of the challenges public response. Commercial Sector and complete other faced when dealing with the modern city. With such a dearth of viable areas, such as the vacant Hotels Sector. It is hindered by imprecise definitions directives, real estate interests and As the main presence in the country’s of cultural heritage values and an gentrification, along with the genuine capital, the federal administration obsession with its founding fathers, awareness in the population of its should keep control of its assets and instead of taking into account today’s importance, have somehow successfully suitably plan for the physical growth material and social realities. Above and preserved the Pilot Plan’s unique traits, of its institutions. A specific agency beyond its illustrious core, it is a dynamic especially its green spaces. to deal with these issues should be and pulsating city. Its true qualities The Pilot Plan’s representative ensemble established. A consistent conservation are still to be thoroughly assessed, as and the functional mix in the residential management plan, with policy guidance much as its many failures, old and new, neighbourhood units are innovative and that could facilitate and manage must be faced and overcome. In other successful experiments. Nevertheless, change in the future, is imperative words, Brasilia is not just a civitas; much of their small-scale detailing and could be a highly useful tool to preservationist consciousness must also remains to be implemented, or at least promote decision-making, overcoming embrace its greater context, including improved; walkways, parking lots, street personalistic, ad hoc solutions. As with its urbs. furniture, and other elements essential to other World Heritage Sites, such a plan urban life should be carefully designed. would become an official document Source: www.getty.edu
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 29 ABOUT THE AUTHORS ABOUT THE AUTHORS Priti Darooka is the founder and Shubha Chacko has been closely linked executive director of the Programme on to grassroots level groups working Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural on these issues. Her work experience Rights (PWESCR). over three decades has been varied, FEATURE but within the realm of development, human rights and social justice.
is currently experiencing some kind of physical or economic water scarcity. A growing competition for water from different sectors, including industry, agriculture, power generation, domestic use and the environment, is making it difficult for poor people to access this scarce resource for productive, consumptive and social uses. This particularly affects poor rural people, especially women. Managing disparities in access and availability of water effectively and fairly constitutes one of the great imperatives of governance and water resource management. Everyone, including the private sector, agrees in principle with people’s needs and claims for adequate water. However, making this a reality for all continues to be a challenge. The decline in water security has started to attract the attention of the global community, with cities like Cape Town running out of water. Security of water has been described as “the Women carry water bottles availability of an acceptable quantity and while crossing an open field quality of water for health, livelihoods, near the synthetic fuel plant in ecosystems and production, coupled with Secunda, on 26 August 2015. an acceptable level of water-related risks to people, environments and economies”. In recent years, several countries have made investments in large-scale water PRITI DAROOKA AND SHUBHA CHACKO infrastructure. India, for example, has made a commitment to build, repair and Intertwined: Women and Water – Towards maintain water infrastructures, prioritising a policy at the New Development Bank water-scarce areas such as the desert state of Rajasthan. Moreover, globally, ideas around water management have changed: While initial policies concentrated on planning and designing for the physical W provision of water, the emphasis has shifted to a more integrated water resource management (IWRM) system which factors in a coordinated management Water is a human lifeline. Water has also as the basis for social and economic process that includes land and water. It been recognised as a human right. The development, including the achievement also includes socio-economic gains that right to water includes rights to receive of many of the Sustainable Development would accrue from projects, as well as safe, affordable and clean, accessible Goals (SDGs). Conversely, water concerns of equity and sustainability. water and sanitation services. It is a insecurity presents an immense hindrance IWRM key principles also recognise that critical natural resource which underpins to poverty reduction and sustainable women have a central role to play in the all social and economic activities by development in the coming decades. provision, management and safeguarding sustaining livelihoods, and is seen One third of the world’s population of water. Reed/Mirrorpix/Getty Images) (Photo by Freddie
30 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW An elderly woman from Nongoma, north-west of Durban, collects water from a free water point
Several international financial institutions (IFIs), including the New Development Bank (NDB), have A growing competition for water from prioritised funding large infrastructure different sectors is making it difficult for poor projects and have identified water as a key component of their strategy. The scarcity people to access this scarce resource, of water, like that of any other resource, poses the inevitable questions: who gets especially women. how much and at what cost? But there are deeper questions that also need to be addressed: Who decides and how? This policy brief is developed from work done by the programme on Women’s Economic, management of water resources – Mar del Plata; this was followed by Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR) including health concerns around quality the International Drinking Water and in gender monitoring of the NDB-funded of water, the damage caused by water- Sanitation Decade (1981-90). It was at water resource management project in related disasters, the effects of water on the International Conference on Water Rajasthan, India – Rajasthan Water Sector economic performance and concerns and the Environment in Dublin (January Restructuring Project for Desert Areas about protecting water-dependent 1992) that the role of women in the (RWSRPD). A gender analysis of NDB environments – has been receiving provision, management and safeguarding policy documents, including Economic substantial attention. The role of women of water was unequivocally recognised. Social Framework (ESF), and of RWSRPD in this has also begun to be acknowledged Agenda 21, which emerged from the Rio project documents and key observations and factored into programmes. The Conference and the Johannesburg Plan from field visits to Rajasthan’s project sites, importance of involving both women of Implementation, also referred to the have provided valuable insights. and men in the management of water role of women. The International Decade and sanitation has been recognised for Action ‘Water for Life’ (2005-2015, Women and water at the global level. One of the first which overlapped with the timeframe set Within the international development mentions was way back in 1977 at the to achieve the Millennium Development arena the need to improve the United Nations Water Conference at Goals, or MDGs) clearly underlined
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 31 MAIN FEATURE
An Indian woman carries a bucket of water on her head on a smog-covered morning as she walks back to where she and other members of her family have a small shack in Noida, a satellite city of India’s capital.
women and their families’ health. Water scarcity directly impacts the time spent by Most of the world’s 1.2 billion poor women to fetch water and prevents them from engaging in paid work and other people, two thirds of whom are women, live productive activities. Therefore, women as water managers will always prioritise in water-scarce countries and do not have water for domestic and other uses besides irrigation. A gender analysis of investments access to safe and reliable supplies of water by IFIs in water and sanitation in Haiti revealed that it did little to change for productive and domestic use. gendered responsibilities around procuring water for domestic use, or around the subsequent caring for household members rendered sick from dysentery and cholera the need for women’s participation and women’s equality and water issues. caused by poor sanitation. The link between involvement in water-related development Many international and national policy poor sanitation and higher maternal efforts. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable statements have included the component mortality rates was also uncovered in this Development is expected to strongly of supporting the “mainstreaming of research. Water as a productive resource influence future policies and strategies, gender” in the water sector. Gender- also supports livelihoods for women, and to ensure that water pollution control defined roles around water are premised especially for rural women. This includes comes higher on the list of international on the divide between the public and the farming, livestock-raising, gardening, and national priorities. Agenda 2030 and “private”; activities focused on the formal food processing, and small enterprises. the SDGs offer unique guidance both on economy and those that are not. Women Women are generally involved in rain-fed women’s empowerment (SDG5) and the are seen as the ‘natural’ collectors of water agriculture and small backyard/kitchen importance of “water and sanitation” (SDG for household use, and disposers of waste gardens. In many countries, women are 6) and the connection between the two. water where sanitation is inadequate. Girl the main producers of staple foods. They Recent reports – including the one by the children are often pulled out of school to work on their family farms and also as High Level Panel on Water (HLPW), the help with carrying water. Women stand paid workers on others’ farms. Men, UN Water synthesis report, and the UN in long lines, walk long distances, or pay however, are seen managing land and water Women and Global Water Partnership exorbitant amounts to secure water. Lack commodities – storage tanks, pumps etc. Action Piece all – make this link between of easy access to clean potable water affects Women’s and girls’ requirements from a
32 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW water programme – whether for sanitation in the distribution of resources including Women are and hygiene, domestic consumption or for water. For the most part WUAs represent sustenance and livelihood activities – are the elite, affluent and powerful men of excluded from often different from men’s. Women and the communities. In most countries in WUAs for several men may also have different water use the South, access to productive resources, priorities. For example, men prefer to use including water, is intrinsically linked to reasons: water for cash crops and livestock, whereas access to land or land ownership. Although women prioritise water for staple crops, women work closely on the land, women vegetables, and domestic use. Gender roles globally are not landowners, and therefore are also defined by local migration patterns do not access credit or gain membership to • Women are not landowners and and production cycles. Male migration to agricultural groups or WUAs, which leaves most of the social and legal rights urban areas leaves women to be responsible them out of decision-making processes to land rest with men. for agriculture. Without taking into that decide site selection, beneficiaries, land • Women, for various reasons, account the diverse needs and practices allocation or water delivery systems. do not handle irrigation, which of a community, it may not be possible Planning meetings of WUA become includes opening and closing of to reduce existing inequalities, enhance the start of a long inclusion and exclusion floodgates. cost–benefit ratios, and actually deliver the process that does result in economic and • It is believed that women find it intended and sustainable food security for social benefits. There are also examples daunting to handle water-related all. Most water projects prior to IWRM where several development projects for conflicts as it requires a certain focused on a single dimension – domestic irrigation have had a negative impact on “toughness” and they do not have supply or water for irrigation. Recognition women. Women, for example, may gain negotiating skills. of women as key water user, provider access to water through these projects but • Women themselves opt out of and conserver has brought a multi-use lose their control over the resources. The organisations whose membership approach (for agriculture, fishing, livestock, establishment of a WUA with all-male is predominantly male. small enterprises, etc) to IWRM. Providing membership in Rajasthan to manage the • Women have inadequate water for multi-use has reduced drudgery Indira Gandhi Canal distributaries and information about the workings for women and provided them time to sub-distributaries has alienated women and advantages of being a engage in other productive livelihood from water resource management and member of a WUA. activities. Studies demonstrate that the can make them totally dependent on • Existing cultural and social norms single use approach to water supply does men (husbands) for water. This is not also limit women’s participation result in women’s lower participation empowerment. in public spaces. It is even harder in decision-making processes. Due to Staff and officials of government for women from marginalised their gendered role, women also may irrigation departments often have an communities such as Dalits to be have different preferences for operating inadequate understanding of gender and part of these bodies. irrigation systems. For example, they tend no will to promote women’s participation. • Historically, women have played to desist from suggesting a night-time For both men and women to play an a key role in issues of water schedule of water delivery because they active role in WUAs, these associations management and they possess fear for their safety. After years of critique need to recognise multi uses of water knowledge and skills for doing of poorly performing irrigation systems, other than for irrigation. Proactive steps, this effectively. However, their the decision to involve water users in the including affirmative action or quotas, knowledge is devalued and management of irrigation schemes was are essential to ensure that there is a ignored. adopted and Water User Associations critical mass of women representatives in • Women in general are less (WUAs) were created globally. WUAs the WUAs. This has to be coupled with educated and low literacy also certainly reduced government expenditure capacity building of female leaders who prevents them from engaging in and gave the responsibility of maintenance can play a key role in the functioning WUAs. and operation to water users on the of WUAs. A study by the International • The introduction of technology ground. It did increase ownership and Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) of has further eroded women’s participation of local farmers through community water and sanitation projects control over water. For example, democratic processes, and improved in 88 communities in 15 countries found when diesel pumps were governance of water management with that projects designed and run with the introduced to extract water, only increased accountability. However, WUAs full participation of women are more men were trained to operate the only accepted landowners as members sustainable and effective than those that pumps, although women were and hence excluded women and landless are not. This supports an earlier World the main water users. Women, as people. WUAs very much reflect existing Bank study that found that women’s a result, became dependent on local social, economic and political power participation was strongly associated male pump operators. structures which continue to play a role with the effectiveness of water and
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 33 MAIN FEATURE
Women wait for water from leaky hoses from a tanker in Kusumpur Pahari. The slum has no running water or sewage facilities. The only water supply comes from the Municipal JAL Board and is supposed to be free, but in reality, residents must pay bribes to have the water delivered.
and technical experts. The observations backgrounds, are denied, particularly of the PWESCR research team on a during times of scarcity. Given the For women, recent field visit to Rajasthan, India to divide between the domestic and the monitor an NDB-funded water resource public, women’s role in household water the water crisis is management project reflect the fact supply finds some acknowledgement but that in this project, women are not her role vis-à-vis water use in farming personal. Women in decision-making bodies or spaces. and irrigation and small enterprises However, the recent increase in the is generally ignored. She is viewed as around the world number of women appointed as water the provider of water, while her role in and environment ministers is heartening, conserving and managing the resource is spend over and this may provide an impetus to seldom acknowledged. greater integration of gender concerns 200 million hours in water programmes. There has also The New Development Bank (NDB) been growing awareness that water and water every day collecting programmes will be effective only if all The NDB was established in July 2015 water. sections of a community are included in by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, water resource management and sectoral India, China and South Africa). The bank water use (including water, sanitation, emerged as a response to financial crises and hygiene [WASH]) programmes). The and as a result of the growing power of World Bank has published a report titled emerging economies. These countries sanitation projects. Women’s involvement ‘The rising tide: a new look at water and were also frustrated with the pace of has led to improved management of the gender, which characterises water as “an “voice” reform within the Bretton Woods resource and greater transparency in asset, a service and a space” and illustrates institutions. In this sense, the bank is the projects. Yet women make up less how water can “reflect and even reinforce” a physical expression of the desire of than 17% of the water, sanitation, and gender inequality. Women’s rights over emerging markets to play a bigger role hygiene labour force and a fraction of the resources, including water, and especially in global governance. The demand in policymakers, regulators, management, the rights of women from marginalised these countries for the rapid expansion
34 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW of infrastructure (seen as essential for resources where it says: “The NDB Environment and Social Management economic growth) was significant, hence promotes the conservation of natural Plan (ESMP) under the RWSRPD the urgent need for investment in this resources, including energy and water, recognises this aspect: “The project sector. Therefore, the bank was set up to and it supports sustainable land use would examine if the policies and bridge the gap between the demand and management and urban development.” decision-making are more transparent supply of infrastructure and to promote The second mention is about using water and vulnerable groups have more voice. sustainable development. The NDB’s (along with energy, and other resources Opportunities to further improve current portfolio has 49 projects, with and material) effectively. Given that participation of such vulnerable groups, loans aggregating to US$ 13.7 billion. women are central to ensuring sustainable especially issues of gender, should be The NDB has clearly spelt out its priority: development, projects that address their explored to ensure their upliftment and “To mobilise resources for infrastructure needs, such as water systems that cater to enhance their livelihood options. Of and sustainable development projects.” “multiple use” (meaning that they provide specific interest would be the proactive Eighty percent of the bank’s loans have water for drinking, small plots and some role women can play in planning, been directed towards transport, clean livestock), may address a range of basic implementation and monitoring of various energy, water and sanitation. The NDB needs of rural women. The NDB is one activities relating to the project, such as, has declared that the “commitment to of the most opaque and gender-neutral say, in the WUAs.” This is a welcome sustainable infrastructure is a standout IFIs as it does not disclose any project- step. However, given the opaqueness of feature of the NDB”. In its general strategy related information publicly. Neither has the bank, it is uncertain if and how these paper, water features as one of its five key it demonstrated any commitment towards were conducted. The website for example areas of operation. The strategy paper gender equality. Since 2017, BRICS does not have any information on public reads in part as follows: “Irrigation, water Feminist Watch (BFW) has consistently hearings, which are at the heart of the resource management and sanitation: A urged the NDB to set up an external ESIA. The fear is that local economic modernised agricultural sector is critical gender advisory, develop a gender policy considerations would tend to take for a country’s development path, and and recruit senior-level gender experts to precedence over critical questioning during requires advanced and efficient irrigation support the bank to ensure that a gender public hearing events. systems and sound management of analysis of all its structures and operations a country’s scarce water resources. is carried out in a timely and systematic Lessons learnt and way forward Supplying adequate drinking water and manner. The NDB has taken none of these In the absence of a clear gender policy improved sanitation is important to health measures and it continues to function and a gender expert, there is a glaring outcomes, living standards and economic in a “gender-neutral” manner such that omission of women and women’s lives growth, especially in underserved rural its projects have a negative impact on and realities in NDB-funded projects. and peri-urban areas.” With respect to women’s lives and contribute directly or They are reduced to a mere checklist irrigation, water resource and sanitation, indirectly to increasing gender gaps. The exercise without clear gender indicators, priority areas would include: i) irrigation NDB-funded water resource management and gender dimensions are added as infrastructure, ii) clean drinking water project in Rajasthan, India – RWSRPD, is an afterthought. In the absence of supply and sanitation, and iii) technology aimed at rehabilitating the Indira Gandhi integrated gender analysis in all stages to enable efficient management of Nahar Project (IGNP) canal system, built of the project, including planning, water resources. The issue of sustenance 60 years ago, to prevent seepage, conserve design, implementation and monitoring, farming that most women, especially in water and enhance water use efficiency and the NDB will continue to run the risk BRICS countries, are engaged in, finds no productivity. The IGNP already exists and of perpetuating gender inequalities mention. There is also no commitment to it is the lifeline for the people of Rajasthan, and causing more damage than good ensure that the technology adopted, does a multi-use water system that provides for women. Therefore, we reiterate not result in a loss of livelihood, or that if water for irrigation, domestic use and BFW’s three-point gender approach for local technology is adopted it would be the industry, including a thermal power plant. NDB: 1. External gender advisory, 2. appropriate kind. It is essential to address The RWSRPD aims to address the gender Gender policy, and 3. Gender expert. the gender aspects of the water policy and other gaps in the existing project. All IFIs, including, the NDB, in all upfront because in conventional irrigation Over the last 60 years, there has been their water resource management policy, women are almost non-existent and an explosion of new knowledge and projects, should have a strategy to their concerns are seen as irrelevant since experience on water resource management mainstream gender by ensuring women’s farming and irrigation are seen as being through community involvement and economic empowerment, their overall linked to “production”. The touchstone WUAs, including the recognition of the wellbeing and their equal and engaged for these projects is the Environment potential of community-led resource participation in all decision-making and Sustainability Framework. Water management systems as models for processes. finds two mentions in this document. good governance by people. The Terms In the first, the document broadly talks of Reference for Environment and Full policy paper with references available about the idea of conservation of natural Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and on www.bricsfeministwatch.org/
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 35 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vladimir Korovkin is the Head of Digital Technologies at the SKOLKOVO Institute for Emerging Market Studies in Moscow INSIGHT
VLADIMIR KOROVKIN Will Africa Close the Digital Divide? A
ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS OF THE DIGITAL ERA IS WHETHER THE FRUITS OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT WILL RESULT IN A SOLUTION TO THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROBLEM: UNACCEPTABLE INEQUALITY OF DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH OR, LEAD TO A NEW VERSION OF THE GLOOMY MARXIST PROPHECY, “THE RICH GET RICHER, AND THE POOR GET POORER”. THE PROBLEM, DEFINED AS “THE DIGITAL high on the African agenda to ensure technologies looks like the only realistic DIVIDE” IN THE LATE 1990s, HAS significant progress will be achieved in chance to do this. TO DO WITH THE DISPARITY those “basic” areas. What change did the arrival of digital IN ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, technology make? On the brighter side, OPPORTUNITIES RESULTING said: ‘‘We talk about the digital divide… some African countries have scored FROM A LACK OF ACCESS TO We want to get computers in everyone’s remarkable achievements in the digital MODERN TECHNOLOGY FOR hands. But half the people in the world do economy. Take the example of M-Pesa in CERTAIN SOCIAL GROUPS, not have electricity. Over a billion do not Kenya: it is the world’s largest system of REGIONS OR NATIONS. have access to clean drinking water. Forget mobile money in relation to GDP. Africa the digital divide, they need food, water, is the continent where digital – in the form clothing, shelter and a chance for an of mobile communication – becomes the Africa overall remains the world’s most education.’’ This scepticism largely misses most inclusive piece of infrastructure. Take underdeveloped continent, hosting all the point of the digital technologies, also the example of Chad, a country roughly of the 10 poorest countries, all of the which can be the instruments of solving in the middle of the continental ranking in 10 countries with lowest life expectancy the problems of food, water, energy and terms of GDP per capita: while 50.8% of and nine of the 10 countries with lowest education, not an alternative to them. the population has access to an improved literacy. Transport and communications, Trying to catch up with the advanced water source, 35.4% are literate and only together with the lack of adequate economies of the world through moving 4% enjoy access to electricity, there are 52 power supply, all exacerbated by terrain step by step is hardly a viable strategy – mobile subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. As and climate, are the infrastructural this route could widen the development a result, the share of the mobile economy in barriers to development. There is even gap. What Africa needs is a leapfrog in GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa is considerably a school of thought that claims that development of an almost unprecedented higher than the world average: 7.7% versus digital technologies should appear scale. Creatively adopting new 4.6%. The continent has its digital corporate
36 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Africa needs to creatively leverage the few strengths that it has developed in the digital space to accelerate its development drive. Those strengths are mobile, digital finance and pan-African cooperation.
giants, like Naspers from South Africa with centres are power-intensive. The necessary Thus, the continent requires careful a market capitalisation of US$70 billion. hardware also requires significant financing. and insightful strategic planning for the Still, Africa faces huge challenges in Currently, the continent hosts only two of development of the digital economy. the digital era. It generally lacks resources the world’s top-500 supercomputers, both Such planning should include concerted to develop adequate infrastructure; most of them in South Africa. national efforts by both state and private of the countries are too small as markets To sum up: even if African countries actors with focused prioritisation to nurture globally competitive players; are closing the so-called “first-level of actions aimed at overcoming the there is a strong unmet need for human digital divide”, the disparity with the deficit of resources and maximising the resources with world-class digital skills. advanced economies in terms of share benefits of digital technologies on socio- The highest place an African country has of population accessing the Internet, economic development. in the Network Readiness Index is 49th, there are the inequality of digital skills About half of African countries held by Mauritius, a small and effective and modes of use of technologies (the currently have national digital strategies service-based economy. Then comes “second-level divide”) and the resulting but very few have a strategy for a national South Africa, at number 65. The advent differences in the depth of penetration digital economy. The strategies that of powerful data processing systems, the of digital technologies into everyday life exist are too focused on the issues of ‘big data era’, opening many new economic (the “third-level divide”). Unfortunately, basic infrastructural development and opportunities, is another challenge. The there is too little research available to overcoming the first-level divide. This is continent is naturally handicapped here answer the question of whether the latter understandable, as infrastructure is the due to the climate, as the data centres divides are diminishing or growing. Yet, traditional domain of direct government are producing heat at mass scale; are the scholars of digital inequality do agree actions. Yet it misses the key point most effective in cold environments. that government policy is the second most of digital transformation: it is about Additionally, countries in Africa are short important factor that affects it, after the the effects of the creative use of new on electric power generation, while data level of wealth in a country. technologies, not about the technological
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 37 INSIGHT
base per se. As was said, catching up through replicating the pathway of the advanced economies is likely to widen the technology gap, not close it. Africa needs to creatively leverage the few strengths that it has developed in the digital space to accelerate its development drive. Those strengths are mobile, digital finance and pan-African cooperation. The share of the mobile economy in the GDP of Sub-Saharan countries is already almost twice the world average; the continent has developed unique ecosystems that use very cheap and robust The modern efforts of an economic technologies to achieve amazing results. An breakthrough on the African continent integral part of those ecosystems is digital money. M-Pesa from Kenya largely opened should take note of this lesson: the strategic the eyes of world bankers to the potential of mobile payments. Finally, while the plans should be based not only on the countries of the continent individually are relatively small markets (only Nigeria has aspirational vision, but also on the sound a chance to enter the global top 20 by the size of GDP), combined, they host over 1.2 analysis of possible barriers and challenges, billion customers. The continent has made some interesting as well as existing strengths. progress in coordinating efforts in the digital space. The African Union convention on data is currently a unique example in the world of harmonisation of national regulation in this important sphere. development reminds one of the “speeded creation of human capital, industrialisation Ironically, though, the content of the industrialisation” agenda of the 1960s and bringing agriculture up to modern convention may become a barrier rather (promoted back then by economists like productivity standards. Given Africa’s than a stimulus in developing national François Perroux). Africa was part of resource constraints, these goals can only digital economies, as the cost of compliance this effort, as stated in President Kwame be achieved through focused, clearly will be quite high for digital businesses that Nkrumah’s speech of 1963: “We shall prioritised policies with concerted typically start up on a shoestring budget. accumulate machinery and establish nationwide efforts and private-public As was said, the continent is naturally steel works, iron foundries and factories; partnerships. handicapped for developing data processing we shall link the various states of our Is such a breakthrough possible at all? capabilities, so any legislation in the domain continent with communications; we shall When Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping should be careful not to regulate away astound the world with our hydroelectric started his drive for modernisation in opportunities together with risks. power…” Almost 60 years later, we mid-1970s, China was poorer than many Unfortunately, the three domains of know that this bold vision met many African countries by the factor of 10. Just strength are seldom touched upon in challenges; overall, the project is far from some 20 years ago, China had lower GDP the existing digital strategies of African being accomplished. per capita than the Republic of Congo. nations. The issue of international The modern efforts of an economic Yet it managed to turn itself not just into cooperation is particularly overlooked, breakthrough on the African continent a middle-income economy but also into with typical strategy boldly stating that a should take note of this lesson: the strategic a global technological giant. The future country should become “a regional digital plans should be based not only on the that Africa has in the digital era is not hub”, without further clarifying what it aspirational vision but also on the sound guaranteed to be bright, yet it is in the means or whether the ambition would be analysis of possible barriers and challenges hands of the formal and informal leaders of shared by other countries of the region. as well as existing strengths. Clearly, the continent to shape it to the benefit of Sometimes it seems that the agenda of African countries need to find an effective their nations and their people. digital transformation in the economy has niche in the global digital economy, not been internalised yet by the national that will provide for the acceleration of Source: www.bricsmagazine.com/ partner of stakeholders of most African countries. inclusive social and economic development the National Committee for BRICS Research, The way of strategizing about digital with technologies, with a focus on the Russia
38 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW ISSUE 01 • 2018
ISSUE 02 • 2018
Photo Essay: Icons Revisited BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Great Gender Debate
BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW
Tapping into
Highlights: BEATINGAfrica’s DRUM
Language and Deconolising Profile: City of Joburg ACADEMIC FORUM BRICS 2018 THEME: ENVISIONING INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A SOCIALLY RESPONSIVE ECONOMY BRICS ISSUE 03 • 2018
BRICS 2018 THEME: ENVISIONING INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH A SOCIALLY RESPONSIVE ECONOMY
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CLIMATE • CIVIL SOCIETY • WASTE
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Email: [email protected] Tel: +27 11 480 2300 Fax: +27 11 482 3068 www.nihss.ac.za Freedom Mazwi is a Post-Doctoral Researcher in Agrarian Studies at Rhodes University OPINION
FREEDOM MAZWI What Africa can learn from Cuba in combating the Covid-19 pandemic
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It is close to four months since the first case of Covid-19 was reported in China, and today the world is facing one of the worst health, humanitarian and economic crises in modern history. The pandemic not only threatens to take hundreds of thousands of human lives, but also to drive the global economy into recession and render millions of people unemployed. The crisis triggered by Covid-19 is voracious to the extent that highly An SAA flight with a Cuban Health Brigade, consisting of 217 Cuban health industrialised countries which constitute professionals, arrives at Waterkloof Airforce Base on 27 April 2020 in the centre of the global economy, such Pretoria, South Africa, to bolster support in the fight against Covid-19. as the United States of America (USA), the United Kingdom (UK), France and Germany, are some of the worst affected, with health systems that are for a rethink of a broader economic are countries in the South that have failing to cope. trajectory and policy frameworks to been able to contain and deal with A number of analysts have argued liberate people in peripheries from a the pandemic, and this article draws that Covid-19 represents the failure hierarchical globalised capitalist system lessons, inspiration and courage from of the global capitalist system, which that has plunged people of the South Cuba and Venezuela. In what follows, survives on greed and the plundering into deteriorating living conditions. the paper discusses policy frameworks, of resources and the ecosystem (see For example, the African continent the importance of solidarity and other Shivji 2020; Editorial 2020). In has borne the brunt of the globalised crucial interventions that African essence, this may mean the collapse of capitalist system, as shown by the countries can immediately implement the system. The Covid-19 outbreak is a below-substandard, life-threatening in the short to medium term to contain long-anticipated signal that has called healthcare system. To date, there Covid-19 and eliminate poverty.
40 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Covid-19
A number of analysts have argued that Covid-19 represents the failure of the global capitalist system, which survives on greed and the plundering of resources and the ecosystem.
expenditure in the public health sector. The privatisation of the health sector now manifests itself in the inability to absorb the growing number of Covid-19 victims not only in the metropolis, but in peripheral countries as well. The failure to provide free or affordable tests, and the shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers who are leading the fight against this pandemic are all indicators of a capitalist system that has failed to deliver in this neoliberal era. Covid-19 and neoliberal capitalism Globally, this phenomenon has resulted Amidst crisis there is hope. Despite There is no doubt that the spread of in a catastrophe, particularly during attempts by neoliberal apologists and Covid-19 is directly linked to neoliberal Covid-19, where access to healthcare the mainstream international media capitalism, a global economic system has been the preserve of the rich. to project capitalism as the only that has been dominant over the past Many African countries have, since solution to the crisis we are facing, four decades. The effect of neoliberal their transition from colonialism, been Cuba has made advances in fighting capitalism on the health system has unable to fully develop their public this pandemic and there are specific been a retreat of the state in providing health systems due to fiscal constraints features inherent in this country and basic healthcare services in many imposed by World Bank and International other, that we must closely analyse. African countries, and this has seen the Monetary Fund (IMF) prescriptions These include development paths privatisation of the healthcare sector. centred on limiting government pursued by such countries that place
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 41 OPINION
Cuban doctor Liz Caballero (R) and two medical students go door to door looking for possible cases of the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, in Havana on 31 March 2020.
emphasis on egalitarianism, complete Socialising the healthcare system departs from the capitalist norm; and the repudiation of the capitalist path, It is important at this stage to more severe the crisis, the greater is the strong investments in public healthcare acknowledge the wisdom of Fidel degree of socialisation.” systems, internationalism, solidarity and Castro, the former leader of Cuba, who voluntarism. saw through the evils of privatisation There is no doubt that the socialisation It is important to state at this point that and commodification of the public and nationalisation of healthcare in spite of sanctions and other economic health sector. Unlike many countries in services is something that was learnt and political destabilisation tactics the North and the South that privatised from countries such as Cuba. This employed by the USA and its key allies their public health systems, Castro did phenomenon has advanced with varying against Cuba for close on six decades, the opposite by ensuring that support intensity in highly capitalist countries the number of Covid-19 fatalities it has for this sector was increased and made such as Spain, the UK and the USA. It recorded is among the lowest worldwide. available to all members of the society. is an approach which must be emulated Cuba’s Minister of Public Health, Dr Jose Although faced with an economic by African countries in the fight against Angel Miranda, reported that by 29 March embargo, it must be emphatically stated Covid-19. 2020, a total of 139 cases and three deaths that the country has been a shining When we talk of Africa, we must had been recorded. This is in contrast to star in the fight against Covid-19. however, take into account its historical the USA which, despite its wealth, had Quite clearly, the successes are rooted and present realities. Colonialism, over 100 000 Covid-19 cases and more in the universal healthcare system and neoliberalism and, in some cases, poor than 4 000 fatalities at the end of March tough measures put in place by former leadership have rendered African states with the fatality level surpassing 800 on president Raul Castro. These measures almost incapable of resolving some of some days. This present Covid-19 lethality include the declaration of a health these emerging issues. The plausible way in the capitalist system calls for analysis emergency, home visits to all citizens forward is to rethink development models as it defies the common narrative that a suspected to be infected and offering best suited for the continent instead of privatised healthcare system is efficient free treatment. This is unlike many adopting prescriptions from the Bretton and accessible when services are required. countries, where such services could Woods institutions which have stalled Thus, the capitalist system’s touts – under only be accessed after payment of a development on the continent. Key in this the so-called banner of the invisible hand – certain fee. Patnaik (2020a) notes that will be a reversal of privatisation and the that it can sort out any demand and supply the current crisis has brought about: adoption of universal healthcare. challenges, defies logic. And so we discuss “the socialisation of healthcare and The continent, alongside other the health sector in Cuba. production of some essential services, which developing regions, has experienced a
42 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Covid-19 brain drain in the health sector, and the equipped to work under supervisors in been witnessed in some countries located time to put this to an end is now. The times of outbreaks such as Covid-19. The in the South. Instead of sending medical presence of healthcare workers is critical story of Cuba’s containment of Covid-19 supplies to rescue a continent that has been in minimising the damage in times of would be incomplete without mentioning ravaged by imperialism for over a century, outbreaks such as Covid-19. As Max Ajl the role of volunteers in spreading the Western countries are sending aeroplanes (2020) notes: message and door-to-door treatment of to evacuate their nationals as if Covid-19 “Training excellent nurses and doctors affected and infected people. This can only originated from Africa. The metropolis can be done extremely cheaply, part of the happen when there is a sense of patriotism has been found wanting when it comes to reason Cuba has a world-class medical which compels everyone to save people and international solidarity. system. But if wrenched from a nation the nation. Turning to Cuba, we learn a number through the quiet inducement of market Venezuela has also shown that the of lessons. Despite having its own coercion or the louder process of social issuing of food packs, which is a socialist challenges whose origins are rooted in the dislocation/primitive accumulation on a approach, can, despite the battering of its international onslaught led by the USA, national scale, the commonwealth resource economy, help during times of a disaster Cuba is currently present in 13 countries, of medical training can become a resource such as Covid-19. This is a recognition which include Andorra, Italy, Spain, China, to be pillaged.” that during disaster-enforced lockdowns, Venezuela and Caribbean nations, to help fight Covid-19. Turning to Africa, there is clearly a need for close cooperation among African states at this stage and it Another key lesson to be drawn is surprising that since the outbreak, there has been no notable collective action or from Cuba in the face of a massive skills statement coming from the leadership of the African Union on how it proposes to haemorrhage, is the use of an important tackle the pandemic. The continent can build on the already existing sub-regional untapped resource in the form of medical blocks to launch an offensive against the students and volunteers who can be pandemic. Conclusion equipped to work under supervisors in To end, emphasis must be placed on the need to abandon the neoliberal path times of outbreaks such as Covid-19. in economic development and social service provision for the continent to be able to deal with Covid-19 and other health system challenges that are likely to The loss of health personnel to the most people are unable to work and fend emerge in future. Apart from denouncing metropolis is not only a loss of human for their families. A food distribution the privatisation agenda of health and personnel but also of financial resources programme, if implemented alongside other social services, it is also important for peripheral states. This is so because suspension of payment of rentals and to socialise the health services and the underdeveloped countries pour resources protection of worker rights, can go a long production of essential services. The need into training health personnel for the way in protecting Africans during these to utilise the untapped resource of medical benefit of developed countries; this is difficult times. This is an important lesson students and volunteers while dealing with an important indicator highlighting to be drawn from Venezuela. the brain drain in the health sector cannot new forms of imperialism under global be overemphasised. Lastly, as already contemporary neoliberal capitalism. International solidarity highlighted, international solidarity is Although recognising that it is almost One of the major failures of neoliberal critical when dealing with global challenges impossible to halt the brain drain given capitalism at this current juncture has been such as Covid-19. The African Union the unequal power relations on the world its resort to inward-looking strategies and and sub-regional bodies must step up and stage, it is equally important for developing the practice of “new nationalisms” (see be counted in critical times like these. countries to put in place mechanisms to Shivji 2020) and fascism (Patnaik 2020b; Covid-19 is a real test for the African slow this brain drain. Yeros and Jha, 2020). By this we make leadership and an opportune platform for Another key lesson to be drawn from reference to what we have seen of late in charting a new pro-poor development path. Cuba in the face of a massive skills developed countries, with the exception of haemorrhage, is the use of an important Portugal, where the state has turned against untapped resource in the form of medical immigrants in offering health and other References related to the feature are available on students and volunteers who can be social services. This phenomenon has also request: contact [email protected]
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 43 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Prof Samir Saran is the President of Observer Research Foundation (ORF), one of Asia’s most influential think tanks. ANALYSIS
Health officials check the body temperature of a driver at the Tamil Nadu-Andra Pradesh interstate border during a government-imposed lockdown as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, on outskirts of Chennai on 24 March 2020.
PROF SAMIR SARAN positive, 39.2% did not report Ahmedabad are cause for deep concern. international travel or any history of Despite efforts over the past few Coexisting with contact with a known patient – clearly weeks to give it a boost, India’s indicating that at least parts of India are healthcare delivery capacity remains #Covid-19: Saving likely to be in the stage of community limited. According to the government, lives and the transmission. By itself, this is neither an order for 49 000 ventilators has economy in India unusual nor surprising – it is indeed been placed in view of the low numbers the nature of pandemics to take root in that exist within the system, but it is communities over time. unclear by when they will arrive and be A total of 179 374 samples distributed among the special centres from 164 773 individuals have created for Covid-19 patients. The E been tested as of 11 April 2020. government has acknowledged the need Just around 7 703 individuals have for “rapidly ramping up” the number been confirmed Covid-19 positive. India of corona-testing facilities, personal is testing just over 17 000 samples per protective equipment (PPEs), isolation Experts at India’s Ministry of Health day, which is inadequate given the beds, ICU beds, ventilators, and other and Family Welfare published a paper vastness of the country and the current essential equipment. This only serves to on 9 April 2020, looking at 41 sentinel spread covering almost half the districts. highlight the fact that the current levels sites across the country. It revealed that This means that the true scale of spread of healthcare facilities will not stand of the 5 911 severe acute respiratory remains unknown and most areas a chance of coping with a sudden and illness (SARI) patients tested since remain potential breakout zones. The huge surge. Hence, a national lockdown 15 February, 1.8% have tested positive spurts that we are witnessing in cities was, and remains, the only option since for Covid-19. Of those who tested like Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Indore, and any widespread community breakout
44 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW (Photo by Waseem Andrabi/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Covid-19
Workers make face masks to meet the demand in view of the spread of the novel coronavirus India is testing pandemic, at a private manufacturing unit in Rangreth area on 6 April 2020 on the outskirts of just over 17 000 Srinagar, India. samples per day, which is inadequate given the vastness of the country and the current spread covering almost half the districts.
the past few months. And that in the next week or two, we will not be blinded by lack of information or intent, or be limited by tentativeness of action. One must make it clear that full marks need to be given for the stringent 21-day lockdown: It was the need of the hour. However, as of now we have failed to capitalise on the time advantage the lockdown has given us. We need to think on our feet, tap into every resource possible, and formulate an exit strategy rather than make the poor pay will overwhelm medical infrastructure. indefinitely extend it across regions for an overburdened system’s lack of If we go by what has been officially when a clear assessment of the risk of agility. We also need to prevent value stated, more than half of India’s community spread is impossible for lack destruction on account of unimaginative districts are yet to record a single case of information. policy. of Covid-19. But the virus may have The lockdown, as we have it now, has This is the moment to embrace talent made its way to many of these districts. virtually brought the national economy from outside the confines of government Whether or not this is true will only be to a grinding halt. This hurts the and infuse economic policy with ideas known through increased testing, which informal workforce, micro businesses, to reignite the Indian economy and tell has not happened and is something that and unorganised labour the most, and is the world that the India story is far from needs to be rectified with alacrity. bound to have long-lasting implications. over. Prime Minister Narendra Modi India has no doubt responded The use of a nationwide lockdown, must seize the moment. strongly and decisively to the crisis by instead of a fine-grained approach, was a Various assessments of the post- opting for a countrywide lockdown. forced hand because of the impossibility pandemic world suggest that there is a According to the Oxford Covid-19 of conducting local-level assessments real threat of gains in poverty reduction Government Response Tracker of the spread. The cost of not testing being reversed on account of Covid-19’s (OxCGRT) database’s Stringency smartly or widely enough – whatever the impact on the global economy. India Index, on 25 March, India was the sixth reason – is unfortunately being borne would not remain untouched if this country to opt for a complete lockdown disproportionately by daily wagers and were to happen. We need to act now to and achieve a stringency index score vulnerable groups. mitigate the impact of the blow even if of 100. We can only hope that the experts the we cannot avoid it entirely. Yet, the fact remains that the government is consulting have briefed India is an outlier in terms of the lockdown is a blunt instrument. A the political leadership about the lessons scale and extent of the lockdown. country like India cannot afford to learnt – nationally and globally – over Over the next fortnight, we should
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 45 ANALYSIS
An Indian man wearing a protective mask sits on a bench, as India remains under an unprecedented lockdown over the highly contagious coronavirus (Covid-19) on 10 April 2020 in New Delhi, India.
aggressively try and map the spread infections, hospital admissions, ICU of the national economy, resulting in of the virus using methods such as crowding, and fatalities. an unprecedented disruption in jobs, countrywide sample testing or pooled Second, India has witnessed strong productivity, and revenue. testing. It is encouraging that States like cooperation between the union If prevention is the primary tool India Maharashtra are currently considering government and state governments has adopted, then a blanket lockdown such strategies. We need to come up (health is a State List subject, a cannot be the only instrument we use. with a blueprint for a staggered approach fact often forgotten or unknown to Tech and data-driven mapping of senior to get us out of the unsustainable commentators) and there has been citizens and those people suffering country-level total lockdown. bipartisan support for the measures from non-communicable diseases India cannot be a country in initiated by the prime minister. In other (NCDs) has to be extensively conducted. suspended animation, waiting for a democracies, bitter partisan politics over Everything from Aadhar and municipal miracle to happen. For, a miracle won’t Covid-19 have been on display. data to digitised hospital records need happen, no matter how hard we pray Third, India is the only large to be scanned to figure out exactly who for it. That is not how killer viruses run economy where a lockdown has been must stay home – and will need to be their course. That is definitely not how accompanied by the near shutting down assisted in this regard – and who can be the Covid-19 pandemic is playing out globally. A pragmatic and scientific approach is the only way out of this seemingly impossible maze; that’s how A national lockdown was, and remains, you win a game of Chinese Checkers. Three stark comparisons have the only option since any widespread emerged in the past two weeks. Statistically, despite its limited health community breakout will overwhelm infrastructure, India has done better than most others – especially advanced medical infrastructure. nations in Europe and America with fabled health services – in terms of
46 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Covid-19
The fact remains that the lockdown is a blunt instrument. A country like India cannot afford to indefinitely extend it across regions when a clear assessment of the risk of Omandurar Medical College hospital community spread is staff gesture as an Indian Air Force helicopter drops flower petals to impossible for lack of pay tribute to all those involved in the fight against the spread of the information. Covid-19 coronavirus, in Chennai on May 3, 2020.
permitted to return to a less restrictive, with specialised institutions to respond agricultural activity (harvesting cannot soft-lockdown work environment. to local challenges that are contextual wait for too long); the restarting of Community health workers must be and individual and, in such instances, certain micro, medium, and small deployed for aggressive mapping of community programmes must be enterprises so that the impact on jobs villages and urban settlements for the implemented. and income disruption is minimal; invisible elderly and chronically ill. It could be argued, and correctly so, and the resumption of basic economic Finding those who do not exist in any that human lives matter more than the activities like reviving stalled supply current electronic health record is key. economy, which can be rebuilt. While lines and retail services to ensure Of course, this has to be a ‘privacy this sentiment may sustain popular the looming crisis of essential goods sensitive’ exercise. support for strong measures to control is avoided while “social distancing” We have seen a skilful deployment and roll back the pandemic, it will not remains in place. In the next stage, of the lockdown by all, but this policy obviate the need to address serious the resumption of other activities like hammer has not been accompanied concerns linked to the economy, which construction and the reopening of some by a sharp economic respite. Experts sustains livelihoods and, hence, life itself. commercial and trading entities can from India and abroad seem to This is why a staggered exit from the be considered. Industries must then converge on the idea that spending is lockdown, accompanied by stepped- begin to operate under a special safety necessary and that money deployed up testing to cover every district, is protocol, which will ensure protection. must reach its intended goal within necessary. A containment policy has If the challenge of shutting down a specified timeframe. These goals been drafted and is already being India was huge, the challenge of must include lifeline protections, implemented by several states after reopening India will be bigger. But support for supply chains and demand identifying ‘hot spots’. There is across- India cannot, and must not, remain shut stimulation, and wealth protection. the-board agreement on what must not down for longer than what it takes to get While the central government must be done – namely, resumption of inter- its act together. Lives matter; so does focus on the macro instruments and state travel by plane, train, or bus. the economy. Let’s not force ourselves agencies, its energy must now also be What we need now is an agreement into a corner where we have to make a directed towards protecting capital. on what can be done. This list must false choice. The state governments must partner include the immediate resumption of Source: www.orfonline.org/
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 47 REPORT
sustainable development projects. Although trade as a proportion of their total trade, recent, the NDB is a solid institution, as levels of intra-BRICS trade are still evaluated by credit rating agencies. This low. Concerning investment flows and Brics Academic indicates a market-oriented approach stock, levels are also low: Foreign Direct Forum Brasilia, of the bank, as well as the BRICS’ Investment (FDI) in the BRICS still responsibility towards current international comes mainly from developed countries. 2019 financial regimes. However, the NDB For example, levels of FDI in India from faces a few challenges. First, despite a huge the other BRICS are negligible. In order Since the global financial effort to increase the number of projects to estimate gains that the BRICS would crisis of 2008, the BRICS and processing times, the amount of have from reducing intra-BRICS barriers, S have become institutionally credit granted so far is lower than initially a Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) stronger. The creation of expected. This is due mainly to the low simulation was presented in the panel. the New Development Bank and working quality of a few projects or to the risks they Concerning tariff reduction, simulations groups in various areas have demonstrated involve. On the latter, this occurs frequently demonstrated that – except for Russia the BRICS’ capacity to propose solutions to because infrastructure projects in emerging – fewer barriers would increase Gross global governance problems. This concerted economies pose a greater risk of default. Domestic Product, investment levels, effort has been possible because they share On the former, the group should have a real wages, exports and imports in all similar interests and principles, which space to orient potential borrowers on how the BRICS, and that these gains would orient their foreign relations, especially to improve the projects’ quality. Second, be cumulative over the years. For this a preference for multilateralism, respect it is hard to estimate natural capital reason, panellists suggested the need to for sovereignty, emphasis on dialogue, costs, a resource that the BRICS have in create a free trade agreement or a partial and focus on sustainable growth and abundancy. This problem is not exclusive scope agreement between the BRICS. development. Aiming at deepening intra- to the BRICS, however, resulting in part Nevertheless, it was also stressed that work BRICS cooperation and expanding BRICS’ from the absence of general regulations aimed at creation of Free Trade Agreement contribution to solve global governance concerning the value of natural resources. among BRICS countries should not problems, the Brazilian presidency in 2019 The NDB should be only one among be forced due to sensitive sectors and has focused on six critical topics: financing many other instruments of the BRICS to regulatory measures in BRICS economies. for development; trade and investment; finance development. The BRICS should Besides, the participation of some BRICS science, technology and innovation; energy use at least two other instruments. First, countries in customs unions should be and development; transnational crime; public–private partnerships. Second, considered. Creating a BRICS visa was and agriculture. In this year’s academic BRICS market integration, including also suggested, which could facilitate flows forum, these topics were discussed in the creation of common rules concerning of businesspeople, academics and tourists. specific panels, all having representatives banking systems, stock markets, clearing Regarding digital trade and e-commerce, from each of the five BRICS countries. procedures, anti-corruption, and offshore its development has been a solution for the In this report, there is a summary of activities. This could also include a BRICS problem of geographical distance and has the presentations and discussions. payment system and a stock exchange the potential to increase the share of trade alliance. All these policies should be based in services even further. Yet, international Financing for Development on successful experiences from other trade rules lag far behind, and the problem Currently, there are more than 550 countries or groups of countries. of whether this is an instrument to hide development financial institutions in the protectionism remains opaque: while world, with total assets of more than Trade and Investment some countries label digital regulation as US$5 trillion. One of these institutions’ The participation of the BRICS in the trade protectionism, others consider such goals is to reduce the enormous global trade has been stable since 2011. policies vital to pursue legitimate goals. infrastructure deficit in developing The panel stressed that there has been a The question that needs to be answered countries, estimated at US$2 trillion a year. tariff reduction in global trade over the is whether laws that are being introduced The New Development Bank is one among last years, though accompanied by an create barriers for digital trade and many development financial institutions, increase of non-tariff barriers. Although e-commerce development and may be used designed to finance infrastructure and there has been an increase in intra-BRICS as an instrument of digital protectionism.
48 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW This is a problem in the BRICS: according such areas as information and data security, by officials at the level of deputy prime to the Organisation for Economic Co- paperless trade, consumers’ and IPR ministers in charge of science, education operation and Development (OECD) protection, trade in services, etc. and innovation. A potential model for the Digital Services Trade Restrictiveness BRICS is the European Union: although Index, the BRICS countries have some Science, Technology and Innovation specificities should be considered, the of the most restrictive regulations in the (STI) BRICS could use Europe’s bottom- world. In order to facilitate digital trade In the context of the 4th Industrial up approach as a model, where many and e-commerce (and thus prevent this revolution, the importance of expanding institutions are involved. The BRICS problem), BRICS members should work STI cooperation was a key point in could look at the experiences of the together, provide information related to the panel. Yet, increasing cooperation European Cooperation in Science and the current domestic regulation, and share will require working through networks Technology (COST), European Patent existing methodological approaches and involving many actors, including those in Organisation, Eureka programme, best practices to enhance digital trade the state, market and civil society. In order Horizon 2020, and the European Institute policy assessment tools. Besides, BRICS to manage this network, the BRICS may of Innovation and Technology economies must take an opportunity to consider the creation of a technological Specifically, on networks of academics articulate their common digital agenda in alliance, coordinated by a council formed and scientists, the panel stressed that
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intra-BRICS cooperation is very Energy and Development BRICS the opposite happens. Second, limited. This should be an opportunity The BRICS countries are key players BRICS countries are major players in for research institutes, universities, concerning energy, being responsible terms of installed capacity of wind farms companies, government institutions and for around 38% of the total energy and solar power, among which China is the think tanks. They should develop denser consumption in the world. Although each top producer of wind turbines. In addition, networks, which could – among other country has a unique energy matrix, they some of the BRICS dominate various aims – provide evidence-based research share a few similarities, which can serve technologies related to the production of and recommendations to policymakers. as a basis for expanding cooperation: they biofuel and hydropower, and Brazil is well In addition, the BRICS should consider all need to expand energy production positioned to transition to a low-carbon that the boundaries of the digital economy and efficiency, while also increasing the economy (43% of its energy source is continue to expand, as well as that use of renewable energy sources. The renewable). boundaries between the digital and non- BRICS should increase cooperation Additionally, India is spearheading digital economies are increasingly blurred. on both renewable and non-renewable global efforts to facilitate access of Concerning the development of financial energy sources, though always considering technology and finance for solar projects technologies, there is a need for global the need to transition to a low-carbon through the International Solar Alliance, standards, which could expand cooperation economy. They should strengthen which has been ratified by more than 50 in various issue-areas: crowdfunding and infrastructure construction and cooperation countries, including Brazil. peer to peer; third-party payment and in oil and gas pipeline networks, as well as In order to achieve all of this, the cross-border e-commerce; blockchain and improve electricity installation and power BRICS should: seek pathways to diversify digital currency; big data; and artificial grids. As coal is still a major energy source energy supply sources, including renewable intelligence. At the same time, the BRICS and the BRICS have around 45% of the and low carbon energy sources; create should work to deliver better government world’s coal reserves, they should seek in mechanisms for attracting investments services to people through technology by the short-term to substitute old by modern in energy infrastructure and energy expanding the use of common platforms, coal technologies, including ultra-low industry; and elaborate strategies for services and tools; rethinking how emission coal-fired power plants; coal-to- ensuring universal energy access and governments buy digital services; and liquids (CTL) and coal-to-gas (CTG); energy affordability. They might consider bringing top technical talents into the and carbon capture, utilisation and storage participating in the Energy Research civil service. This would increase access to (CCUS). Taken all BRICS countries have Cooperation Platform that was established information by citizens, empower under- various degrees of relying on coal power, following the agreement in several signed served populations, and potentially improve they should consider plans to reduce or BRICS declarations. This would contribute skills in the informal economy. Finally, even eventually decommission coal power to increase cooperation on science and given the importance of ethical aspects plants in the long term. Specifically, on technology; promote the use of new in certain types of research, the BRICS renewable energy sources, the BRICS are energy technologies; and promote the could form an ethics working group. An currently responsible for around 41% of reform of global energy and environmental agreement on acceptable technology CO2 emissions, and their emissions are governance. Cooperation could also be applications would help fast-track rising. Yet, two elements should be stressed. promoted by a BRICS energy think tank technology transfers between the BRICS First, in OECD countries consumption- alliance. Another concern raised in the countries and thus, expedite innovation. based emissions are much higher than panel was the need to address energy production-based emissions while in the poverty and inequality by increasing access to electricity. This is important and because evidence shows the disproportionate burden of energy poverty on women, as …the NDB is a solid institution, as well as a positive correlation between electricity consumption per capita and evaluated by credit rating agencies. This overall human development index levels. In the case of India, evidence indicates indicates a market-oriented approach there is also a correlation with other social indicators, such as poverty rate, violent of the bank, as well as the BRICS’ crime and women literacy rate.
responsibility towards current international Cooperation on Fighting financial regimes. Transnational Crime Transnational crime has been a central concern for the international community over the last three decades, being now part
50 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW of numerous United Nations Conventions, the formation of networks, mobilizing problem is not only of undernourishment: as well as of BRICS agreements and groups already working with these issues. in Brazil and Russia there are more declarations. They include money- The BRICS should also work to introduce people who are over nourished than laundering, smuggling, drug trafficking, a science- and health-based approach to undernourished. human trafficking, terrorism, among others. fight against drugs use. This would be an Potential for future cooperation among As transnational crime is a complex issue, alternative to the US-led “war on drugs”, a the BRICS is enormous. Emphasis the BRICS countries should use skills result from US policies introduced in the should be on increasing public and and resources from various sources in the 1980s and diffused to the rest of the world. private agricultural investment; protecting fight against crime. They should create small farmers; increasing investment in a joint commission aimed at expanding Agricultural Cooperation water infrastructure; using information cooperation, especially on crime prevention; The BRICS countries are in the top 20 in and communication technology; and conflicts of jurisdiction; extradition; joint terms of food exports in the world, among promoting climate resilient agriculture. investigations; intelligence; information which Brazil and China are respectively All of this requires large investments in and data exchange; protection of witnesses the third and fifth largest food exporters. Research and Development, as well as an and victims; and training and technical In addition, all five countries have strong approach that considers agriculture as an assistance. Rather than using hierarchical agriculture research systems, and are interdisciplinary science encompassing structures, this commission should biology, economics and public policy. For “orchestrate” action by mobilizing various example, BRICS countries could research types of actors: government sectors, overlapping indigenous knowledge systems subnational governments, civil society The BRICS to create scientifically validated, value- organisations, universities, among others. In added products targeting wellness markets. addition, they should design a framework countries are in the Such an approach could open new markets of common terminology and approaches, for farmers to supplement their incomes which could contribute to standardize top 20 in terms of and help preserve indigenous knowledge. definitions of types of transnational crime; Thus, it is necessary to make agriculture funding and management issues; and food exports in the science intensive branch. dispute settlement issues. One of the obstacles, however, are Terrorism is one of the biggest threats to world, among which non-tariff barriers among the BRICS, the world today. BRICS countries should which have increased since 2009, different enhance their cooperation in fighting Brazil and China are from what happened with tariff barriers. it. They should increase their efforts for This is probably not a coincidence, as the the expeditious finalisation and adoption respectively the third literature indicates an increased use of of the Comprehensive Convention on non-tariff measures to compensate the International Terrorism (CCIT) by and fifth largest food decreasing use of tariff measures. This the United Nations General Assembly problem is important because nontariff (UNGA). The expansion of Internet exporters. measures affect especially agricultural access has facilitated the expansion of products and developing countries. It transnational crime. There are various is unlikely that agricultural cooperation illegal acts that can be conducted through will advance without a discussion of the cyberspace, including terrorism, working to solve many of the challenges the role of non-tariff measures in the dissemination of disinformation, sabotage, that developing countries face. intra-BRICS trade. his problem could and espionage. This and the fact that One of these problems is in part be tackled through the creation BRICS countries have more than 40% of undernourishment. Currently, around of the BRICS Agricultural Information internet users make cybersecurity a central 11% of people in the world are underfed, Exchange System (BAIES) and BRICS policy issue. a percentage that decreased continuously Agricultural Research Platform (ARP), Regarding intra-BRICS cooperation for many years, but that started to increase proposed by China in 2012 and India in on cybersecurity, an aspect that is likely in 2015. In the BRICS, although there 2016 respectively. The platform should to constrain cooperation is technological is overall food security, there are large work to facilitate trade among the BRICS, asymmetry. A more realistic approach segments of the population who still suffer having a single-window system to process would focus in creating capacities to from undernutrition, especially in India. documentation, as well as assist exporters critically consume imported technologies. Yet, the ‘food problem’ is not a question of and importers of agricultural products, In addition, there is space for the whether our planet can provide enough thereby guaranteeing security and BRICS to cooperate in the fight against food to feed its growing population, but predictability in the agricultural trade. hate speech and dissemination of of whether it can produce food at prices disinformation. They could contribute to everyone can afford. In addition, the Source: http://www.nkibrics.ru/
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 51 ABOUT THE AUTHORS Mmamoloko Kubayi- Ngubane is Minister of Tourism, a Member of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa TOURISM
A picture taken on 19 March 2020 shows an ice cream vendor on a tricycle at the deserted North Beach in Durban after the eThekwini Municipality imposed drastic measures on all beaches and swimming pools in order to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
MMAMOLOKO KUBAYI-NGUBANE The travel and tourism industry has It is not hard to predict that in our already suffered the most devastating country, the sector’s contribution to Road to recovery setbacks since the outbreak of the the GDP for this year will be very low for the tourism Covid-19 pandemic, yet its full impact and that the sector will incur severe job on this sector is still unknown. losses. This is because the lockdown sector: The South The United Nations World Tourism which we imposed to contain the African perspective Organisation (UNWTO) estimates spread of the virus curtailed both that international tourist arrivals the supply and the demand side of could decline by 20% to 30% in 2020. the tourism market. In essence, the This would translate into a loss of lockdown rendered the tourism sector US$ 300 billion to US$ 400 billion in totally inactive. T international tourism receipts in the However, we must appreciate and worst-case scenario. applaud the fact that thus far, our Similarly, analysis by the World efforts to contain Covid-19 have Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) resulted in the slowing of the spread shows a sharp escalation in the of the virus. At the same time, the economic loss to the world economy, up need to avoid the loss of jobs and the to US$2.7 trillion of GDP. This will put destruction of livelihoods is a top almost 75 million jobs at risk in G20 priority. Thus, there is a need to keep countries alone. a delicate balance between protecting Reed/Mirrorpix/Getty Images) (Photo by Freddie
52 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Covid-19 people from the Covid-19 virus and avoiding economic devastation. Accordingly, our government has adopted the Risk Adjustment Approach, which consists of a sequenced, phased-in opening up of key sectors and priority areas while intensify the fight against Covid-19 and rebuilding our economy. Because the tourism sector thrives on social interaction, it will take longer for businesses in the sector to return to full operation. In the meantime, we need to create mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable segments of the sector such as SMEs, those who are self-employed, women and the youth. The Tourism Relief Fund, which we introduced to assist small businesses in the sector, has thus far received more than 10 000 applications. This R200 million fund is a once-off assistance package capped at R50 000 per entity and it is aimed at assisting entities to cover fixed costs, operational costs, supplies and other pressure cost items. Entities in the following categories of the tourism value chain are eligible to apply: • Accommodation establishments: hotels, lodges, bed and breakfast establishments (B&B’s), guest houses and backpackers. Minister of Tourism • Hospitality and related services: Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane restaurants (not attached to hotels); conference venues (not attached to hotels), professional catering; businesses fall within this category, attractions. we encourage them to utilise this However, we • Travel and related services: tour opportunity. This will help them to operators; travel agents; tourist reduce the burden of operational costs, must appreciate guiding; car rental companies; and such as salaries, rent and the payment coach operators. of suppliers. and applaud the We have also been working in close We acknowledge that the fund is collaboration with the Department fact that thus not enough. We, therefore encourage of Labour and Employment, labour businesses in the sector to apply for formations and the Tourism Business far, our efforts to other relief schemes that have been Council of South Africa (TBCSA) made available by our government. to expedite Unemployment Insurance contain Covid-19 Government has introduced a Fund applications for tourism R200 billion loan guarantee scheme businesses. So far, we have received have resulted in the in partnership with the major banks, more than 25 000 applications and we National Treasury and the South believe this will also assist in saving slowing the spread African Reserve Bank. The initial phase jobs in the sector. of this scheme is for companies with While it is important to support the of the virus. a turnover of less than R300 million sector so that it can weather the storm, a year. Since most of the tourism there is also a need to start planning for
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 53 TOURISM
Belinda Scott, Durban’s deputy mayor, and Nomusa Dube-Ncube, MEC in KwaZulu-Natal for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, hand over sanitisers, masks and sanitary packs in Umlazi township on 9 April 2020 in Durban, South Africa.
effort will be a futile exercise. measures that countries can put in place The global nature Regarding global coordination, we to accelerate their recovery. have participated in conferences and The G20 Presidency (Kingdom of of the pandemic engagements with global institutions Saudi Arabia) convened a Tourism such as the African Union, the G20 Ministers’ Virtual Meeting on 24 April. means that the ministerial meeting, the UNWTO The purpose of the meeting was to and the WTTC to look at how we discuss the tourism sector’s response measures to curb can develop a global approach to the to the Covid-19 pandemic as well as to recovery of the tourism sector. The AU formulate a recovery plan supporting the spread, such convened the first meeting of the Bureau the long-term resilience of the sector. of the Subcommittee on Tourism for Specifically, the meeting was aimed as travel restrictions the Specialised Technical Committee at facilitating collaborative action to on Transport, Transcontinental and protect tourism businesses and jobs, and border closures, Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and and to support visitors throughout the Tourism (STC-TTIIET) on 21 April outbreak. Given that the tourism sector have been imposed 2020. The purpose of the meeting was will play a crucial role in economic to exchange ideas on a response and recovery, the G20 Tourism Ministers worldwide. recovery plan for tourism in relation to Meeting provided a platform to the Covid-19 pandemic. reinforce global cooperation with other On 14 April, the UNWTO convened international organisations in order to a virtual conference on Policies for mitigate the impact of the pandemic and the recovery of the sector in the post- Inclusive Recovery in Global Tourism, lay the foundation to accelerate recovery. Covid-19 period. The global nature of in collaboration with the Mastercard For its part, the WTTC has proposed the pandemic means that the measures Center for Inclusive Growth. The to G20 tourism ministers to “... fully to curb the spread of Covid-19, such as conference provided a platform to jointly commit with the private sector travel restrictions and border closures, discuss how governments, institutions to four key principles to achieve a faster have been imposed worldwide. This and companies can protect vulnerable recovery. This would involve including means that any recovery planning that populations during the Covid-19 the private sector in the coordinated is not in line with a globally coordinated outbreak. The meeting also discussed response, ensuring all measures put the
54 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Covid-19
The consistent theme emerging from these global institutions is that countries should develop a globally
coordinated approach to the A security guard walks down a deserted St Georges Mall in Cape recovery of the tourism sector. Town CBD on 10 April 2020.
traveller at the heart of their actions. crisis to save businesses and jobs, phase of the recovery will be driven by This would include a seamless traveller developing a framework to advance domestic tourism followed by regional journey with enhanced health security sustainable tourism, investing in tourism. International tourism will only standards enabled through technology, market intelligence systems and digital start coming into operation next year. developing joint public-private and transformation, and developing a The Risk Adjusted Approach gives G20-wide health protocols, as well governance framework for tourism at us a framework within which we can as ongoing support packages for all levels. carve out a path towards recovery for the tourism sector beyond lifting of In the end, each country is expected the tourism sector in South Africa. lockdown and into the recovery.” to develop its own recovery plan that is Working in collaboration with the The consistent theme emerging informed by the prevailing conditions private sector, we are developing a from these global institutions is that in that particular country. Based on recovery plan that will form a launch- countries should develop a globally the Covid-19 pandemic’s expected pad for the tourism recovery efforts in coordinated approach to the recovery trajectory in South Africa, the best-case South Africa. We are confident that of the tourism sector. Additionally, scenario is that the tourism sector’s the sector will overcome the current countries are encouraged to commit recovery will only begin, in earnest, challenges and emerge even stronger in to supporting the sector during the towards the end of this year. The first the post-Covid-19 period.
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 55 ABOUT THE AUTHOR William Gumede is an Associate Professor at Wits University’s School of Governance. He is also Executive Chairperson of the Democracy Works VIEWPOINT Foundation and former Deputy Editor of The Sowetan newspaper
PROFESSOR WILLIAM GUMEDE for developing countries. They also Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between wanted to diversify their trade away from the regional customs unions aligned to industrial countries and to share their South Africa and Brazil, and India. The case for unique lessons regarding the twin pursuits Although that goal was never realised, the IBSA’s relevance of development and democracy amidst new free trade area between South Africa multicultural societies characterised by and the Southern African Customs Union deep levels of poverty and inequality. (SACU) and Mercosur, the Latin American regional grouping with Brazil at its centre, Multi-ethnic societies pursuing which came into effect last year, was a partial B democracy and development outcome of that early ambition. Brazil, India and South Africa are the In 2005, the IBSA countries agreed to globe’s leading developing multi-ethnic make an annual contribution of US$1 democracies. The promise of the IBSA million to an IBSA fund, which would Before the rise of the five-member bloc alliance, was for these countries to not be used to help developing countries. The of emerging economies known as BRICS only push for fair global trade, institutions fund has been operational since 2006 and is (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South and rules, but to also ensure that this was currently managed by the UN Development Africa), there was an alliance between done in a democratic manner. Programme’s office for South-South co- India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA). Within their domestic spheres, all operation. The fund, called the IBSA Fund It promised to align the globe’s largest three IBSA countries are attempting for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger, developing country democracies across to pursue both development and has become the most active co-operation continents so as to trade with one another; democracy. Hence, IBSA is a formal mechanism between the countries. to oppose the dominance by industrial alliance of like-minded developing To date, the IBSA Fund has approved 27 countries regarding global trade as well as countries facing similar developmental, projects in 21 developing countries. Some of rules, ideas and institutions; and to share inequality and multicultural challenges, the projects funded include strengthening their respective development experiences. but wanting to resolve this by building rice production in Vietnam, helping people IBSA was established in 2003. BRICS viable democracies. with disabilities in Cambodia, building a was established in 2009 by China, Russia, BRICS is pushing for a bigger say for hospital in Palestine and improving solid India and Brazil, with South Africa joining developing countries in matters relating waste collection in Haiti. in 2010. IBSA has operated under the to global trade, institutions and rules Criteria for granting development shadow of BRICS, with meetings by this – but not in matters relating to global support include the following: that there alliance having been somewhat low-key democracy. China is a one-party state be knowledge sharing among developing affairs in recent times compared to the pursuing state capitalism, offering little countries, that developing countries’ fanfare that accompanies BRICS meetings. freedom to its people. Russia is a one- own experts and institutions are used, IBSA was established after India, Brazil party, one-leader dominant state pursuing that the capacity of the beneficiaries are and South Africa had been invited as state capitalism, offering controlled boosted, and that projects have built-in observers to the 2003 Group of 8 (G8) freedom to its people. long-term sustainability. summit of industrial countries in France Both China and Russia are trying to (the G8 has, since 2014, been operating show that development is possible without IBSA’s democratic institutions as the G7, following the suspension of democracy. The mix of non-democracies There is no regional or global alliance of Russia). The three IBSA countries left and democracies within BRICS has developing countries that specifically aims the summit feeling that their fate, and been one of the reasons for the BRICS to promote democracy and development that of the rest of the developing world, grouping’s lack of cohesion. – making IBSA unique. Just like was being decided by a small group of In 2007, leaders from the IBSA international forums such as the G20 and unrepresentative developed countries. countries mooted a plan to connect the G7, IBSA established formal mechanisms Following the meeting, the three markets of their respective countries in for non-state organisations, such as civil countries decided to formally club order to bring together the world’s largest society organisations – including the together in order to push for a bigger developing free trade area. The proposal media – to influence the group’s decision- say when it came to global governance was for a Comprehensive Economic making. Channels for independent civil
56 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW society organisations to influence BRICS are absent. In 2015, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Co-operation established the South African Council on International Relations (SACOIR), where civil society, organised labour, business and academia are represented in order to help shape the country’s foreign policy. Brazil has structured democratic channels for civil society involvement in foreign policy. The country has a Committee on Foreign Policy and Human Rights, which pushes for transparency regarding government’s international India’s former prime minister Manmohan Singh (L), South Africa’s former president Thabo relations policies and practices. The Mbeki (C) and Brazil’s former president Lula Da Silva (R) shake hands on 17 October committee holds public hearings in 2007, at their first meeting of the IBSA summit at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria. Brazil’s Congress, reviews the country’s positioning in the Human Rights Council and pushes for information about the government’s foreign policy decisions to to share their experiences of democracy, ideas available to them for implementing be made publicly available. development and nation-building. independent policies. They must also Although India does not have Civil society must play a greater co-operate to make the global political, structured mechanisms for civil society to role in monitoring the sustainability, economic and trade policies and institutions influence foreign policy, the country’s civil inclusivity and community participation more equitable for developing countries. society organisations are robust and hold in projects of the IBSA Fund. Civil The three countries can diversify their the government to account for its foreign society organisations in IBSA countries trade away from industrial countries policy decisions. These organisations must push to make it mandatory that by trading more with each other. IBSA work hard at shaping official policy by their respective parliaments approve countries could create a complementary arranging public debates and protesting foreign loans for infrastructure. This is market between them (as suggested by against corruption. not a current requirement in any of the Lakshmi Puri in her paper titled IBSA: An The media and civil organisations in three IBSA countries. They must also Emerging Trinity in the New Geography of these countries must collaborate with each push for domestic investment protocols International Trade,, 2007). Such an IBSA other to better expose corruption, to hold that ensure their countries’ public and market would be based on one country government and business accountable, and private companies adhere to ecologically selling to another what that country sustainable, consultative and honest needs, and vice versa. They could import corporate behaviour when investing in commodities they currently source from foreign countries. industrial countries, from each other. Civil society In addition, each country can become Strengthening co-operation part of the value chains of the other’s must play a greater between IBSA members manufacturing and services production IBSA could continue, but as a space to chains, where complementary. role in monitoring share lessons with regard to building “India and South Africa can source the sustainability, democracy and development in competitive agricultural products and multicultural societies with high levels of ethanol, construction materials and inclusivity and poverty and inequality. Each country can vehicle parts from Brazil, while Brazil learn from what the other has done right and South Africa can source competitive community or wrong in their land reform, affirmative pharmaceuticals and IT-enabled services action and empowerment programmes. from India,” writes Puri. “Similarly, participation in There also needs to be a greater Brazil and India, in turn, can source people-to-people exchange between these competitively certain minerals and metals projects of the IBSA countries, and a greater sharing of both from South Africa.” democratic development lessons and Developing countries struggle to secure Fund. nation-building lessons. technology from industrial countries. They India, South Africa and Brazil must can collaborate on technology exchange: collaborate to increase the scope of one country can transfer technology in
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 57 VIEWPOINT
equipment. The global outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus in 2020 was a IBSA members could also assist each missed opportunity for IBSA and BRICS members to co-operate to jointly tackle the other in combating epidemics by sharing spread of the virus in individual countries. The EU instructed its medical companies expertise, lessons learned and medical not to export medical equipment to countries outside the EU as the pandemic equipment. took over the region. India did the same. China sent masks and ventilators to select industrial and developing countries.
which it has expertise to another that Droughts, floods and unseasonal weather IBSA within BRICS lacks it. Developmental and democracy are now becoming commonplace in South The big question now is whether IBSA models from industrial countries are Africa. Climate change has increased remains relevant. If so, what should be the often inappropriate for developing desertification and waterborne diseases new role of this organisation, given the countries. The IBSA countries can share such as cholera, and has undermined prominence of BRICS? The two key reasons their unique lessons of the twin pursuits agricultural production. IBSA countries for IBSA’s existence are, firstly, bringing of development and democracy amidst could collaborate on efforts to combat together multi-ethnic developing countries multicultural societies with deep levels of climate change by sharing good practices pursuing both democracy and development; poverty and inequality. and partnering in global climate and secondly, for IBSA countries to not Research and development (R&D), negotiations. They could also partner only push for fair global trade, institutions crucial for the development of new in sharing disaster management best and rules, but also for democratic ones. technology, is concentrated in industrial practices, capacity and skills. These reasons remain relevant. However, countries. The three countries must IBSA members could join forces, what has been lacking is a more defined encourage greater co-research, co- and in a similar way to the European role for IBSA now that BRICS has knowledge creation and co-ideas fostering. Union, take on global technology giants been established. Within BRICS, IBSA There has to be greater collaboration such as Amazon, Google, Apple and could be a formal caucus pushing for between the universities and the research Facebook, which appear too powerful to participatory decision-making, ecological and policy institutions of the IBSA be disciplined by individual countries. In sustainability and democratic development. countries. There is also a need for greater 2019, the EU fined Google more than This means that IBSA would be a people-to-people exchange between US$1.7 billion for “abusive practices” democratic lobby within BRICS itself. these countries. The three countries must under anti-trust laws – practices such The bottom line is that IBSA co-operate more strategically to push as abusing its market dominance by countries should continue to push for for a bigger say in global governance for limiting or preventing rivals from working global democracy, country equality and developing countries by campaigning for with companies that had contracts with ecologically sustainable development in fair global trade, institutions and rules – Google. Google controls 93% of the international trade, even within the BRICS but also for democratic ones. global Internet search engine market. alliance. Furthermore, the three countries Climate change is increasingly affecting In 2019, the EU started investigations must continue at a global level to campaign all three countries. A study by researchers into Amazon, probing whether it was not only for developing countries to have at Stanford University in California abusing its double role as a retailer a greater say in global governance, but also showed that the Indian economy is 31% selling its products and operating as a for increased democracy within global smaller because of the impact of climate market where other companies sell their institutions, rules and country behaviour. change. The country has seen frequent products, by using third party data to IBSA should form pro-democracy droughts, unseasonable rains and cyclones. promote its own products at the expense strategic alliances within global institutions In Brazil, extreme weather, unpredictable of other retailers. The previous year, the such as the United Nations, the World seasons and uncontrolled fires have reduced EU fined Amazon US$295 million over Trade Organisation and World Bank not agricultural output, increased fungal outstanding taxes owed to Luxembourg. If only to reform these institutions, but also diseases and pests, and reduced biodiversity. IBSA countries partnered up, they would to ensure that these institutions adopt Rising deforestation of the Amazon is also be in a better position to discipline global inclusive policies, have participatory changing global weather patterns. technology giants for uncompetitive decision-making processes in place and Cape Town received its lowest rainfall behaviour or failure to pay taxes, than if appoint globally diverse personnel. IBSA in recorded history between 2015 and they acted on their own. countries could, through their democratic 2017, leading to water shortages and IBSA members could also assist each positioning, also influence both BRICS rationing, and sparking fears that the other in combating epidemics by sharing and the global agenda to adopt more South African city would run out of water. expertise, lessons learned and medical democratic priorities.
58 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW 01 Ashraf Patel is a digital economy and development associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue and the South African BRICS Think Tank BRICS’ New Industrial Development Path for the Digital Economy: How Africa Can Benefit
ESSAYS02 Prof Thakhathi and Mr Patel are respective members in the Research Academic – Ethics and Governance and ICT Clusters of the South African BRICS Think Tank (SABTT). The academic think tank acts as a dynamic broker between the worlds of knowledge, policy development and policy action on behalf of South Africa.
02 Dovhani Thakathi is a professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Fort Hare The Role of BRICS Countries in Transforming the Rules of the Global Economic and Trade System
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 59 DISCOURSE
BRICS’s New Industrial Development Path for the Digital Economy: 01 How Africa Can Benefit By Ashraf Patel, a digital economy and development associate at the Institute for Global Dialogue and the South African BRICS Think Tank
he BRICS group of nations was formed in 2010 • World Economic Forum Industry 4.0 with a view to promoting closer economic, political, • The G20 digital economy task team T developmental, and peace and security objectives in a • BRICS new industrial development and 4IR multi-polar world, holding annual summits at various levels. • African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) digital Overall, the bloc is aligned to the United Nations (UN) trade Sustainable Development Goals, a collection of 17 goals • The European Union’s (EU) digital competition and that form part of UN Resolution 70/1: Transforming our innovation programmes World – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The resolution sets out a clear agenda for global sustainability. Each global region and platform has a different focus Spearheaded by the UN through a deliberative process and set of priorities when it comes to the application of involving its 193 member states as well as global civil society, information and communications technology (ICT), big data the goals are almost a blueprint of the outcome document, and the data economy in a complex, globalised world. In many titled The Future We Want. ways, new digital contestations are emerging, pitting the US In this context, the BRICS Academic Forum, held in free-market model against China’s developmental state-led Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, in 2019 – along with the model and the EU’s consumer social market model. Wanshou Forum in China, co-hosted by Fudan University This rings true in the midst of the robust electronic and the University of São Paulo – was timely and relevant. commerce (e-commerce) negotiations that are currently under At a time when the world has been gripped by the Covid-19 way between the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and 80 coronavirus pandemic, when the model of neoliberal capitalism countries. The treaty is one of the most contested since the is in rapid decline, alternatives are gaining traction. These Doha Development Round, which began in November 2001 alternatives include the developmental state model of some with the aim of lowering trade barriers around the world, and BRICS nations, along with the success evidenced by the new thereby facilitating increased global trade. What’s at stake is digital industrial development path. These are gaining rapid the very structure of national, regional and local economies. traction in terms of addressing fundamental development and This is because e-commerce is not merely about web- economic challenges facing the Developing South. based, online commerce; it affects the structure of national economies, such as taxation, trade, labour, agriculture, Overview of economic and industrialisation innovation, data ownership and local value chains, and could pathways in Sub-Saharan Africa have a potential negative effect on millions of small, medium With discourse about the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and micro enterprises (SMMEs). having gone mainstream via the World Economic Forum, Let us take a look at the varying perspectives: many core global platforms have joined in to also address the USA: The American model, which espouses free markets and digital economy. These include: unfettered, borderless trade, is the USA’s historic and current
60 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW strategy. This is not surprising, given that tech giant Amazon is the e-commerce leader when it comes to driving the global value chain and its ownership of hundreds of millions of global At a time when the customer datasets, which are valuable for its business model. Other major global tech firms such as Microsoft, Apple, world has been gripped by Google, Facebook, Netflix and Uber – moulded in accordance with Silicon Valley’s venture capitalism business model – are the Covid-19 coronavirus built on the monetisation of their customers’ personal data and on so-called “ad tech”. Given that customers are based all pandemic, when the model over the world, and the borderless trade that ensues, the data of neoliberal capitalism is in markets in which these tech giants operate are fundamentally unregulated. Boosted by the federal tax breaks passed by rapid decline, alternatives are US President Donald Trump’s administration in 2017 – constituting the largest federal tax breaks in US corporate gaining traction. history – these firms are scouring the planet for more markets, more datasets and, of course, minimal taxation.
China: China’s entry into the WTO in 1996 was a key milestone. Its state-led development planning economic support for strong innovation frameworks and for preserving model has reaped massive benefits in international trade cultural heritage in the audio-visual space. It also espouses over the past two decades, earning the country the tagline fair competition in jurisdictions, modest data localisation, “factory of the world”. Trillions of dollars in trade surpluses the protection of intellectual property rights, e-signatures, have resulted, pushing China’s national GDP figures on par etc. All this within a solid strong consumer data protection with those of the US and the EU. Having achieved its UN framework, aligned to the social clauses of the EU Charter. It millennium development goals, China is now concentrating appears to be endorsing a hybrid model for updated “special on investing in innovation systems, in successful national and differential treatment” provisions within the General industrial policy models, and in a unique national digital Agreement on Trade in Services (which gives developing ecosystem that has propelled tech champions such as Alibaba, countries special rights). It also seems to endorse more Tencent and Huawei to global heights. These three tech firms intensive capacity support for Trade Facilitation Agreements have morphed into global multinational corporations. China for least developed countries in an effort to preserve some is on track for industrialised nation status, and to this end, semblance of developmental aid support. is creatively leveraging its state-led model as an example of success in presenting both opportunities and challenges for the Developing South: India, Kenya, South Africa, Mexico, Global South. etc – The Developing South members, many of which are part of the original Group of 77, or G77 (now the G90) EU: The EU model proposes a social market strategy with that successfully negotiated at the WTO on special and strong consumer trust legislation. This is borne out of the differential treatments – are concerned at the pace and even EU’s GDPR policy regulating data protection and privacy, the relevance of the e-commerce negotiations. (The G90 and its experience with strong competition regulation. The is an alliance between the poorest and smallest developing European Competition Commission is world-renowned for countries, many of which are part of the WTO.) Led by the rulings and fines it has imposed in various legal cases India and other nations, the group’s position is one of caution involving US tech giants operating in the EU’s jurisdiction. and deep concern over key elements, especially with regard Its approach generally embraces the power of the market to data localisation vis-à-vis national industries; high-tech and big business – in line with European Commission e-commerce standards as trade barriers; and the need for the
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protection of millions of local SMMEs, small-scale farmers, industrial economy, advocates the WEF. national tech champions and agriculture value chains, so vital “Technology is therefore one of the main reasons why for huge markets. incomes have stagnated, or even decreased, for a majority of The group’s approach is couched within a broader Global the population in high-income countries: the demand for South discourse that brings with it echoes of the G77 alliance highly skilled workers has increased, while the demand for that achieved success at the WTO Seattle Round of trade workers with less education and lower skills has decreased. The negotiations in 1999. However, with a rapidly globalised digital result is a job market with a strong demand at the high and economy and varying interests even within the Global South, low ends, but a hollowing out of the middle. This helps explain coupled with the soft power of “developmental aid” that many why so many workers are disillusioned and fearful that their least developed countries face, this position, while morally own real incomes and those of their children will continue strong, is under pressure. to stagnate. It also helps explain why middle classes around the world are increasingly experiencing a pervasive sense of Key challenges facing the Developing South and dissatisfaction and unfairness.” (WEF, 2016) disruptions by 4IR and the digital economy Professor Antonio Andreoni is a senior lecturer in economics The current neoliberal model is experiencing tech-centric at public research university the SOAS University of London, economic, social and workplace change and disruption. and an industrial policy academic. He explains that “as a result With the rapid rise of micro-workers (professional workers of these structural differences, industrial policies in developing without formal employment) comes a new “precariat class” countries such as China, Brazil and South Africa have faced a which, combined with the concomitant mass layoffs in the number of challenges, including the creation of completely new manufacturing industry, has created a duality of vulnerable sectors (eg sectoral policies), the absorption and development workers: the industrial proletariat and the precariat. of technologies, and the achievement of certain product quality In 2016, the WEF wrote: “New Schumpeterian modes standards (e.g. technology, trade and standardisation policies). of technology disruption have again created new waves of In contrast, industrialised economies have relied on different opportunity – via instability. The rise of Uber aptly symbolises policy measures in response to the dramatic transformations this new wave of disruptive business models, monetisation of in the global manufacturing landscape beginning in the mid- new apps, micro-grids and new technological waves. These 1990s, and the “manufacturing loss” experienced during the have major implications for economies, with potential for mega global financial crisis.” wealth creation; but also disrupting standard, everyday modes of Economic development results from structural change in life and work as we know it.” the economy that shifts labour from low-productivity activities Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee, leading economists (such as traditional agriculture) towards activities that have at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, posit that 4IR higher productivity levels. This indispensable process, at the “could yield greater inequality, particularly in its potential to heart of economic catch-up, is not as simple as it sounds. disrupt labour markets”. “Successful” structural change involves not only diversifying “As automation substitutes for labour across the entire activities, but also adopting and adapting existing technologies economy, the net displacement of workers by machines might and climbing the technology ladder by continuously upgrading exacerbate the gap between returns to capital and returns to production structures in key sectors of manufacturing and labour,” they continue.“On the other hand, it is also possible that services, with smart investment in HRD. This is a long and the displacement of workers by technology will, on aggregate, winding path; it is not simply about leapfrogging magically result in a net increase in safe jobs. We cannot foresee at this into the 4IR. point which scenario is likely to emerge, and history suggests that the outcome is likely to be some combination of the two.” BRICS development co-operation and enabling a It is in this milieu that a carefully planned industrial and new industrial development in Africa Human Resource Development (HRD) skills policy should be The story of Africa is one of de-industrialisation overall, crafted and calibrated to ensure a just transition into the fourth with the share of manufacturing in GDP hovering around
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000.0 6513.0 000.0 4902.0 000.0 000.0 000.0 2605.2 2000.0 1197.2 790.9 1000.0 273.7 136.5 0.0 East Asia & European Latin America Middle East & North South Asia Africa Pacific Union & Caribbean North Africa America excluding North Africa
Data for Middle East & North Africa and North America are of 2016. The rest are data of 2017
10% for most countries, while falling in some (Banga and R&D strategy is a good example of funding innovation and Te Velde, 2018). The contrast with East Asia, which is often providing companies with innovation support packages to cited as a development model for Africa, could not be starker. improve competitiveness and development. Manufacturing value-add in East Asia and developing The digitalised economy is shaping the landscape for Asia is much higher than in Africa. The Chinese new development opportunities around the world. In order to industrial development model can be modified and enable achieve Agenda 2063 – Africa’s master plan for transforming many African nations to choose a path of industrialisation. the continent into the global powerhouse of the future – and According to Dani Rodrik, an economist at Harvard the worldwide Sustainable Development Goals on expanding University, the rapid transitional move into services – often employment, decreasing inequality and eradicating poverty, skipping the manufacturing sector – is leading to unbalanced millions of new jobs must be created. structural transformation. For instance, mass usage of The upcoming BRICS 2020 Summit – to be held in mobile communications and apps can create an illusion of Russia in July – will rely heavily on the input of the academic tech modernisation, but without a solid manufacturing and community, namely the BRICS Think Tanks. The chapters industrial base, which is the heartbeat of job creation, it can in Beijing and Moscow held their first planning meetings in deepen existing inequalities. Moreover, industrial activities and early January 2020. Russia will further promote the activities manufacturing value-add in Africa are generally concentrated of the BRICS Network University (a network of the BRICS in the North African region and in South Africa. member countries’ higher education institutions engaged For the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, the traditional industries in co-operation) and expand contacts between academic – agriculture and mining – are still trapped in unequal global and scientific centres, research institutions and universities trading systems and unstable commodity cycles. Many nations in the five-member states. BRICS academics firmly believe would need to add value through the beneficiation of minerals that their work will offer much-needed guidance on the future and create some semblance of a modern industrial base that progress of the group and help the five leaders to stand at the can add value to global value chains, and thus create wealth. forefront of international decision-making. For instance, South Africa’s national system of innovation and Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank, 2019
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The Role of BRICS Countries in Transforming the Rules of the Global Economic and 02 Trade System By Dovhani Thakathi, a professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Fort Hare
n the preamble of the Reconstruction and Development service delivery and transformation by all government Programme (RDP) White Paper, our first democratic departments and other state organs. He called for the Ipresident, Nelson Mandela, said: “Our people have extensive exploration of new and innovative mechanisms elected us because they want change. Change is what by government departments to deliver effective, efficient they will get. Our people have high expectations which economic and other services to citizens. The BRICS are legitimate. While the government cannot meet all countries must become innovative and creative in these needs overnight, we must put firmly into place the changing policies so as to transform the world. concrete goals, time frames and strategies to achieve The transformation of the global economic and trade this change.” system must start first with BRICS countries before going These are the powerful words of the late iconic global. The BRICS bloc must ensure that its own system statesman. BRICS countries must learn from Tata Nelson brings about change and transformation among its members. Mandela and put clear objectives in place with regard to reshaping the global economic and trade rules and system. What is transformation? Nitin Desai, an economist and the former Under- According to Brazilian educationist Paulo Freire, Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs “transformation is only valid if it is carried out with the of the United Nations, said: “It is increasingly being people, not for them. Liberation is like childbirth and is acknowledged that the state is a good key actor in the a painful one. The person who emerges is a new person, development process. It has a major role to play in no longer an oppressor or oppressed, but a person in the making globalisation work for all, in alleviating poverty process of achieving freedom.” and income inequality, in advancing human rights and The transformation agenda of BRICS must improve democracy, in protecting the environment and promoting service delivery at all levels within the bloc’s member sustainable development, and in managing violent conflict states, structures and offices. These five nations must and combating international crime. Public Administration develop policies that drive transformation in the whole has a vital role to play in the quest for peace, greater world and provide the capacity to implement those freedom, social equity and sustainable development.” policies. BRICS countries must establish and influence a BRICS countries must influence the global system positive environment for economic and trade policies. well. They must be proactive and ensure that global The vision and mission of BRICS must be clear. What transformation takes place in a fair and equitable manner. is important is the will and the commitment of its leaders In his speech at the official opening of Parliament to drive and champion those transformation goals and in 1999, then-president Thabo Mbeki emphasised objectives, especially for fighting poverty, unemployment the importance of, and the need for, accelerating and inequality globally. These leaders must influence
64 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Translating BRICS strategic plans into economic freedom and free trade to make the world a implementation plans better place for all. 2 The BRICS countries should be united in their search for economic service excellence and effective service • Crafting BRICS strategic plans into operational plans delivery, good governance, professionalism, accountability, for implementation by the global community. equity, and effective administration and management. In • Engaging all the key international strategic alliances accelerating economic transformation and the trade rules, and role-players. BRICS needs leaders who are visionary, caring and capable. • Improving co-ordination and implementation of transformation policies by BRICS’ co-ordination body. How can BRICS countries accelerate economic • The involvement of all BRICS members, from those in and trade transformation? the frontlines to those at the top. Going back Moving from tradition to 1 to the basics 3 innovation and creativity
• Implementation of policies that stimulate economic • Inculcating a sense of commitment and pride in all growth. BRICS member states. • Implementation of equitable and fair principles. • Introducing a sense of care for all the members of BRICS. • Revisiting and revising the economic and trade policies. • BRICS must always be geared for presenting prompt • Communicating BRICS plans and programmes results and responses to all its members. effectively. • Making the BRICS community a performance-driven • Creating a positive climate and a new culture of organisation. excellence among the global community. • Developing capacity for high standards of performance and • Enhancing the development of Local Economic high processing of activities within BRICS architecture. Development and trade policies. • Establishment of high-calibre BRICS leadership and top management that is transformative and flexible. Turning the BRICS bloc into BRICS countries must 4 a learning organisation learn from Tata Nelson • BRICS must introduce a culture of research and studies. • BRICS must accelerate the establishment of learning Mandela and put clear networks, both administrative and academic, within all its member states. objectives in place with • BRICS must harness intellectual debates and discussions among its members. regard to reshaping the global • BRICS must make economic and trade initiatives core elements of all BRICS programmes and plans. economic and trade rules • BRICS must open doors for learning in the sector to promote productivity, efficiency and excellence. and system. • BRICS must have the learning teams, U-turn groups, quality circles, think tanks and work improvement teams to work at optimum level.
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• BRICS must have structures that should co-ordinate The role of BRICS political leaders and top training, education, research, development and managers learning programmes. • Building capacity for strategic thinking, effective • BRICS must promote the effective utilisation of skills leadership and management. and knowledge available in each of its member-states. • Facilitating synergy and co-operation within the • BRICS must promote the regular sharing of global community for the achievement of government knowledge, benchmarking and best practices inside goals and objectives. and outside each of its member countries. • Leading and managing their human resources well. • BRICS must learn from its counterparts across the • Focusing on strategic issues and coming up with globe. strategies to enhance service delivery and the transformation agenda. Moving from isolation • Creating an internal capacity to carry out the strategic 5 to synergy initiatives and other mechanisms for speedy response to BRICS policies and programmes. • Promote an understanding of the BRICS vision and • Setting up of strategic evaluation and monitoring mission when it comes to economics and trade. mechanisms to ensure that the world is moving in the • Encourage the exchange of staff and study visits right direction. among university staff and students with other • Introducing new ways of working and creating partners and alliances. structures that talk to each other in implementing • Organise regular meetings of clustered BRICS at all policies and programmes. levels. • Creating an organisational culture that promotes • Encourage teamwork, task teams and focus groups excellence, unity and teamwork. to deal with weakest links in the entire BRICS • Promoting talent management and encouraging the community. strength of BRICS countries. • Strengthen the relations among BRICS member • Promoting organisational rebirth and renewal to bring universities and other educational institutions. in new energy and drive in order to reach economic • Promote BRICS members to effective participation in and trade goals and objectives. African regional institutions and other international organisations. Techniques to promote transformation of the economic and trade system among the BRICS Doing the community 6 spring-cleaning The following could assist BRICS countries to accelerate transformation: • Root out corruption anywhere among the BRICS • Use of the project management technique members. • Action research • Remove negative influences and encourage peace • Organisational development among BRICS members and the entire world. • Work groups • Deal with all the risk areas effectively among the • Organisational learning BRICS community. • Balanced scorecard • Deal with any delays in economics and trade • Kaizen technique (continuous improvement) effectively. • HRD interventions • Remove all the stumbling blocks on economic and • Work improvement teams trade affairs among the BRICS community. • Quality circles
66 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW Moving from bureaucracy to revocracy for all BRICS members • Revocrats initiate change to improve service delivery, BRICS countries must but bureaucrats resist change and stifle progress. • Revocrats are driven by change and transformation, influence the global system but bureaucrats are driven by desks and rules. • Revocrats are passionate about their work and well. They must be proactive challenges, but bureaucrats find pleasure in officialdom and status. and ensure that global • Revocrats are results-orientated, but bureaucrats are transformation takes place in position-conscious and very fond of lines of authority. • Revocrats are quick to deal with issues, but bureaucrats a fair and equitable like long and winding procedures to delay the issues. • Revocrats make things happen, but bureaucrats watch manner. things happening and try to block them. • Revocrats are activists who are committed to progress and action, but bureaucrats are full of delays and excuses. • The revocrat attitude is: “One of the best ways to I would like to refer you to the Chinese credo, save time is to think and plan ahead: Five minutes of devised in 1920 by James Yen, a Chinese thinking can often save an hour of work.” Be a revocrat who can think and plan strategically. educator and organiser known for his work in mass literacy and rural reconstruction. The Conclusion credo guided the rural reconstruction movement BRICS must play a crucial role in transforming the in that country. Yen established this credo for global economic and trade rules, making them user- working with communities – and it went like this: friendly for the global community. BRICS can heed the advice of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, who • Go to the people. addressed delegates at the fifth annual BRICS Summit, • Live among the people. held in Durban, in 2013. He said: “In Africa, people • Learn from the people. talk about the Big Five – the five biggest animals on • Plan with the people. the African continent. BRICS is also made up of five • Work with the people. countries and we make a very visible contribution to the • Start with what people know. global economy.” Indeed, BRICS members are big. A policy on • Build on what people have. transformation remains our pillar of strength and a strong • Teach by showing, learn by doing. foundation to drive the service delivery agenda effectively. • Not a showcase but a pattern. BRICS countries must all strive for professional • Not odds and ends, but a system. excellence and encourage the professional development of • Not a piecemeal but an integrated those associated with the bloc and those seeking to enter approach. the BRICS community. • Not a relief, but a release. BRICS must affirm the dignity and value of the services it renders.
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Covid-19
ON BRICSLOCKDOWN
68 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW ABRAZIL man walks past graffiti depicting an image of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro wearing a face mask in downtown Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 24 March 2020 during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
A THIRD OF THE population is under some form of GLOBAL POPULATION restriction. IS ON CORONAVIRUS While “lockdown” isn’t a technical LOCKDOWN — HERE’S term used by public health officials, it A LOOK AT HOW BRICS can refer to anything from mandatory COUNTRIES ARE geographic quarantines to non-mandatory LOCKING DOWN recommendations to stay at home, closures of certain types of businesses, or bans on events and gatherings, explains Countries around the world are Lindsay Wiley, a health law professor at C implementing measures to slow the Washington College of Law. the spread of the coronavirus, Here’s how BRICS countries and from declaring national quarantines to territories have implemented mandatory closing schools. mass quarantines. Source: www.businessinsider.com
Photo by Fabio Teixeira/NurPhoto via Getty Images Teixeira/NurPhoto Fabio Photo by More than a third of the planet’s
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ARUSSIA woman wearing a face mask as protection against the Covid-19 coronavirus walks past a graffiti wall in central Moscow on 23 March 2020. The image is of Soviet WWII airforce veterans. Via Getty Images Nemenov / AFP Via Photo By Alexander
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AnINDIA artist wearing a coronavirus-shaped helmet gestures as he requests a boy to stay at home during the country’s national lockdown, enforced to slow the spread of the coronavirus in New Delhi, India, on 30 April 2020.
ISSUE 04 • 2020 | 73 PHOTO ESSAY Photo by Kevin Frayer / Getty Images Kevin Frayer Photo by
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ACHINA Chinese girl wears a plastic bottle as makeshift homemade protection, along with a protective mask, while waiting to check in for a flight at Beijing Capital Airport on 30 January 2020 in Beijing, China.
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TwoSOUTH men walk across AFRICA Long Street, usually one of Cape Town’s busiest and most popular entertainment areas with bars, clubs and restaurants, with a billboard reading “Stay Home” in the background, on 3 April 2020.
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Covid-19
HSS Awards:
Highlights from Deputy Minister Manamela’s speech. This is what he had to say…
On Covid-19’s impact on society… With the world seemingly in turmoil – from the pandemic of Covid-19 – to our challenging economic climate, the concerning high unemployment rate and persistent levels of inequality – never has the need for education, relevance and innovation been so intense.
On the importance of the humanities and social sciences… In order to evolve as a people (humans in society), we depend on outputs from the humanities and social sciences. The humanities and social sciences hold the keys to unlock future potential for greater
78 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW It is important to recognise and note that, indeed, if we are to find sustainable solutions to our pressing challenges, greater and urgent collaboration is a non-negotiable between the STEM and the HSS disciplines.
equity, justice and social responsibility. humanities, and most importantly, to support over 600 PhD candidates in In 2013, all indications were that vital chart a course for the future. the HSS and has supported over 200 disciplines in this broad humanities and This journey started with a bold research outputs, which has assisted in social sciences field were in dire need of vision, as defined by the founding growing South Africa to 1% of global intervention to arrest their decline and members, encapsulated in the metaphor research output. stimulate and rejuvenate research activity. from Mazisi Kunene’s poetry: Over time, the Humanities Awards “The child of January 2012 will enter have featured works that attest to a On the White Paper for Post- the university gate of 2030 to study thriving HSS community in South School Education and Training Aeronautical Engineering, confident that Africa, which means more innovative Within the framework of the White she is not driftwood and that her clans ideas that will go some way towards Paper for Post-School Education and come from a long way back. boosting research and development in Training (2013), approved by Cabinet, She will be bilingual, and her the country while contributing to the the Department of Higher Education mother tongue and her English will be transformation of our higher education and Training (DHET) thus established interchangeably strong – she can write and curriculum – in line with the National the National Institute for the Humanities she can talk and, if need be, compose poems Development Plan 2030 vision. and Social Sciences (NIHSS) to stimulate on periodic tables.” research and postgraduate studies in the As the NIHSS celebrates its fifth On the awards submissions… humanities and social sciences. golden year - with this fifth instalment I am told that this year’s call for It is important to recognise and of the Humanities Awards, it is submissions has attracted more than note that, indeed, if we are to find pleasing and heart-warming that we, as 100 entries from creatives across the sustainable solutions to our pressing South Africa – through the vision and country within the humanities and challenges, greater and urgent leadership of Dr Bonginkosi “Blade” social sciences disciplines, with the collaboration is a non-negotiable Nzimande – have seen it necessary to qualifying entries featuring 67 book between the STEM and the HSS prioritise and invest in an entity such entries and 18 creative collections and disciplines. as this, whose impact in stimulating a digital contributions. vibrant, dynamic humanities and social On the NIHSS’s five-year sciences community is profound. Note: These highlights are extracted from milestone… an address delivered by Deputy Minister of The five-year milestone provides an On the NIHSS’s funding of post- Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Mr opportunity for the institute and us as graduate studies… Buti Manamela, at the fifth Humanities and the department to look back, review To date, the institute has graduated Social Sciences Awards. The event was held and consider the impact this entity over 200 NIHSS-funded doctoral at Constitution Hill’s Human Rights Precinct in (NIHSS) has made in dynamising the candidates, is continuing to fund and Johannesburg on Thursday, 12 March 2020.
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Humanities and Social Sciences AWARDS 2020 1 Leading HSS scholars and academics congregated to honour and celebrate outstanding contributions 2 to the HSS.
he annual Humanities enhance and advance fields in the Awards 2020 ceremony humanities and social sciences. Twas held on 12 March In addition, they recognise and 2020 at The Square, Constitution celebrate those members of Hill Human Rights Precinct in the HSS community who are Johannesburg. undertaking the necessary work The awards honour outstanding, of creating post-apartheid and innovative and socially responsive postcolonial forms of scholarship, scholarship, creative as well creative production, and digital as digital contributions that humanities outputs.
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THE WINNERS: 1. The HSS Awards ceremony was a resounding success, with over 300 guests in attendance 2. The Buskaid Soweto String Ensemble entertained guests with their high-energy performance 3. HSS Awards 2020 panel of judges, winners and Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Mr Buti Manamela 4. NIHSS mentors Prof Kishore Raga, Prof Fred Hendricks, Prof Jessica Murray and Prof Hendrik Kotze mingling with one of the guests at the Humanities Awards 2020 ceremony 5. Guests received a warm welcome at the registration desk at the HSS Awards 6. Best Non-Fiction Edited Volume winners Prof Grace Khunou, Prof Edith Phaswana and Prof Hugo Canham with Non-Fiction Chair judge Prof Hlonipha Mokoena 7. Best Musical Composition winning album, Michael Blake and Mantombi Matotiyana: Songs of Greeting, Healing and Heritage
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The humanities and social sciences hold the keys to unlock future potential for greater equity, justice and social responsibility.
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8. Humanities Awards 2020 Collective Creations chair judge Dr Andile Khumalo and Best Public Performance winner Jay Pather 9. A copy of the HSS Awards catalogue was given to all the guests in attendance 10. Best Non-Fiction Biography joint winner Prof Brian Willan with Humanities Awards 2020 judges Sabata-Mpho Mokae and Prof Mcebisi Ndletyana 11. Fiction Best Poetry and Short Stories Award winner Gabeba Baderoon and chair judge Prof Nhlanhla Maake
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82 | BRICS ACADEMIC REVIEW LIBERATIONAfrican
25 MAY Email: [email protected] 2nd floor, 24 St Andrews Postnet Suite 413 Tel: +27 11 480 2300 Johannesburg, Parktown P/Bag X30500 Fax: +27 11 482 3068 Gauteng, 2193 Houghton, 2041
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