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A Comparative Analysis of the Membership of Brazil and South Africa to BRICS

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A Comparative Analysis of the Membership of Brazil and South Africa to BRICS A comparative analysis of the membership of Brazil and South Africa to BRICS. VJ Zwane https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9230-5183 Dissertation accepted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters in Political Studies at the North-West University Supervisor: Dr JCM Venter Graduation: May 2020 Student number: 21944652 PREFACE This study was completed for a Master’s degree in political studies at the North-West University, Potchefstroom campus. The focus of this thesis is on a comparative analysis of the membership of Brazil and South Africa to BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). In this study, the contributions of both countries are analysed and projected as emerging states on the global South seeking global reformation and the role of BRICS in International Relations. I (the student) am in possession of a BA degree in Peace Studies and International Relations (A four-year degree) from the North-West University (NWU), Mafikeng campus. This Master’s dissertation would never have been possible without the contribution of several people academically and financially. I heartily thank God Almighty for the knowledge and guidance throughout this project. Special gratitude goes to my supervisor, Dr. J. C. M, Venter (Senior Lecturer at the NWU, Potchefstroom campus), and my mentor Prof, D.N. Kgwadi (Vice-Chancellor of the NWU) for their constant encouragement, guidance and valuable support. I sincerely thank my family and the NWU for their moral and financial support. i ABSTRACT This study compares the contribution of Brazil and South Africa towards BRICS (Brazil, India, China, South Africa). Both Brazil and South Africa are countries from the global south and they are both among the leading economic developing powers on their respective continents. Both countries have been facing similar problems; in 2016 the former Brazilian president (Dilma Rousseff) was impeached for corruption at the same time political opposition in South Africa were calling for the removal of its previous president Jacob Zuma. Both countries have the same goal of decentralising global power and bringing about a new world order wherein international power in the United Nation’s, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund is more fairly distributed between the developed and rich northern nations, and the poorer developing countries of the South. Brazil and South Africa also form part of IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), which is an established trilateral initiative comprised of India, Brazil and South Africa, which promotes South-South cooperation (SSC) and the transformation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). A comparison, using the theories of international relations would explain the political and economic contributions of South Africa and Brazil to BRICS and the importance thereof for the countries involved and the alliance. Key terms: BRICS, Global South, North-South dichotomy. South-South cooperation, transformation. ii OPSOMMING Hierdie studie vergelyk die bydrae van Brasilië en Suid-Afrika tot BRICS (Brasilië, Indië, Sjina, Suid-Afrika . Beide Brasilië en Suid-Afrika is lande van die “globale Suide” en hulle is albei onder die voorste ekonomiese ontwikkelende magte op hul onderskeie kontinente. Albei lande het soortgelyke probleme ondervind; In 2016 is die voormalige Brasiliaanse president (Dilma Rousseff) vir korrupsie gearresteer. Terselfdertyd het politieke opposisie in Suid-Afrika gevra vir die verwydering van sy vorige president, Jacob Zuma. Beide lande het dieselfde doel, naamlik om die globale mag te desentraliseer en 'n nuwe wêreldorde te bewerkstellig waarin internasionale mag in die Verenigde Nasies, die Wêreldbank en die Internasionale Monetêre Fonds meer billik versprei word tussen die ontwikkelde en ryk noordelike lande en die armer ontwikkelende Suidelike lande. Brasilië en Suid-Afrika vorm ook deel van IBSA (Indië, Brasilië, Suid-Afrika) wat gesamentlik 'n gevestigde drieledige inisiatief is wat Suid-Suid-samewerking en die transformasie van die Veiligheidsraad van die Verenigde Nasies, die Internasionale Monetêre Fonds, en die Wêreldhandelsorganisasie bevorder. ’n Vergelyking wat die teorieë van internasionale betrekkinge gebruik, sal die politieke en ekonomiese bydraes van Suid-Afrika en Brasilië aan BRISS, en die belangrikheid daarvan vir die betrokke lande en die alliansie verduidelik. Sleutelwoorde: BRICS, Globale Suide, Noord-Suid-tweedeling, Suid-Suid-samewerking, transformasie iii TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................... I ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... II OPSOMMING ................................................................................................................................ III CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 South Africa’s purpose for joining BRICS .................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Africa and BRICS............................................................................................................. 2 1.1.3 Reasons for the comparison of South Africa and Brazil ............................................ 3 1.2 Problem statement. .............................................................................................. 3 1.3 Research questions ............................................................................................. 4 1.4 Objectives of the study ........................................................................................ 4 1.5 Central theoretical statement .............................................................................. 4 1.6 Research methodology. ....................................................................................... 5 1.7 Literature review ................................................................................................... 5 1.8 Realism .................................................................................................................. 7 1.9 Liberalism .............................................................................................................. 7 1.10 Constructivism...................................................................................................... 7 1.11 Institutionalism ..................................................................................................... 8 1.12 Chapter division ................................................................................................... 8 1.13 Contribution of the study .................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 2: A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MAIN THEORETICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MOST PROMINENT INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORIES ........................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Defining international relations ........................................................................ 10 2.3 History of international relations (IR) as an academic discipline ................. 10 2.4 Defining the concept of “theory”...................................................................... 10 2.4.1 Knowledge (epistemology) ........................................................................................... 11 2.4.2 Theory ............................................................................................................................. 11 2.5 Theories in international relations ................................................................... 11 iv 2.5.1 Realist theory in international relations (IR) .............................................................. 12 2.5.1.1 Assumption one: state behaviour and anarchy......................................................... 13 2.5.1.2 Assumption two: the role of power in the international system .............................. 13 2.5.1.3 Assumption three: the role of morality in the international system ........................ 13 2.5.1.4 Assumption four: state as the key actor in the international system ..................... 13 2.5.1.5 Assumption five: basic continuity and the role of power ......................................... 14 2.5.2 Liberalism in IR .............................................................................................................. 14 2.5.2.1 Assumption one: state behaviour and anarchy in the international system. ........ 15 2.5.2.2 Assumption two: the role of power in the international system. ............................. 15 2.5.2.3 Assumption three: the role of morality in the international system ........................ 16 2.5.2.4 Assumption four: state as the key actor in the international system ..................... 16 2.5.2.5 Assumption five: basic continuity and interdependence. ........................................ 16 2.5.3 Constructivist theory in IR ............................................................................................ 16 2.5.3.1
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