South Africa - BRICS+ as a counterweight to the dominance of the West
For South Africa, BRICS membership primarily means an emphasis on its role as a regional power in international politics and as an advocate for multilateralism. In particular, the expansion into a "BRICS plus" alliance is perceived there as an important step towards creating a counterweight to the geopolitical and economic dominance of the West. According to South Africa, the inclusion of six new members will lend more weight to the bloc's general efforts to reorganize the global order. South Africa has always had a positive attitude towards enlargement, as this should help to strengthen the so-called Global South in its efforts to reshape global political and financial institutions. By expanding the alliance, it is also hoped that members of the alliance will exchange information on efficient conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms in the event of international crises to a greater extent than before.
Â
Against the background of the declared foreign policy course of "non-alignment", it will be important for South Africa, on the one hand, to ensure that the new member states do not adopt any overtly anti-US or anti-Western positions on key issues of international interest. On the other hand, South Africa will be keen to ensure a balance between countries with anti-US or anti-Western positions (such as Iran) and countries with an obvious multipolar orientation.
Â
Ethiopia - respect and recognition in Africa and the world
For Ethiopia, with its large population, rapidly growing economy and special history without colonization, joining BRICS at the beginning of 2024 is primarily associated with a long-held desire for recognition and a say. In its new self-confidence, Ethiopia is hardly interested in the fact that it could be stepping on the toes of European partners or the USA by joining. After decades of various crises, famines and civil wars, Ethiopia is finally getting what it had long demanded for itself: respect and recognition on the African continent and in world politics.
In Ethiopia, the BRICS is not generally perceived as an anti-Western alliance, but rather as a grouping of states that represent the "Global South". In the Ethiopian and African context, however, the BRICS are actually also seen as an anti-colonial bloc that can represent its own interests better than any Western partner. The traditional multilateral institutions and bodies are still undisputedly relevant for Ethiopia. The BRICS are seen as a supplement to organizations such as the United Nations or the African Union, but not as a replacement for the classic world order. On the contrary, Ethiopia is proud to have been one of the first members of the League of Nations. Even today, the country would like to play a stronger role on the world stage. In Ethiopia, therefore, joining BRICS is not perceived as a geopolitical shift, but merely as the long-demanded appreciation of its own relevance in Africa and the world.
Â
Desire for more say at international level
Overall, the assessment of the last BRICS summit and the announced expansion of the alliance in sub-Saharan Africa varies considerably. It is clear that the respective relationship to the BRICS countries on the one hand and the "Western" partners on the other has a significant influence on the perception. What the discussions in almost all countries of operation have in common is that they are placed in the general context of current geopolitical upheavals, the development towards a multipolar world and the demand for a reorganization of the global order. The countries of sub-Saharan Africa share the desire for more recognition and a say at international level. Against this backdrop, BRICS is largely seen as a counter-model to the existing, Western-dominated global institutions and the "hegemonic" dominance of the USA. In West Africa in particular, the tense relationship with the former colonial power France also plays a key role here.
When assessing the opportunities for African countries arising from the growing importance of the expanded BRICS alliance, fundamental geopolitical and partly normative considerations are mixed with more practical co-operation efforts. As a counterweight to the existing Western alliances and Bretton Woods institutions, BRICS is seen as an important factor in reshaping the global order in the interests of Africa and the "Global South". This applies in particular to the structure and principles of global financial institutions. A recurring motif here is criticism of the unfavourable conditions for African countries and the "paternalism" of Western partners. BRICS is perceived as an alliance that respects the principle of non-interference and is not restricted by normative and ethical standards. In practical terms, however, alternative economic cooperation and investment opportunities and additional foreign policy options are seen above all. In general, the current view of the developments surrounding BRICS appears to be characterised by a pragmatic to opportunistic and rather wait-and-see approach. Most African countries are not looking to join forces exclusively with one side or alliance, but are instead focussing on diversifying partnerships in a multipolar world. In their perception, however, this tends to mean a reduction in dependency on and influence by Western partners.
