BRICS and Africa’s renaissance: Socio-economic and political implications for the contemporary international system
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60787/mjrdp.vol14no1.150Keywords:
BRICS, African Renaissance, South-South Cooperation, Multi-polarity, Development, Finance, Africa BRICS Relations, International System, Global GovernanceAbstract
This paper examines the evolving relationship between the BRICS bloc - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa- and Africa within the broader context of Africa’s quest for an African Renaissance. Using a qualitative research design based on content analysis and secondary data review, the study analyzes the socio-economic and political implications of BRICS engagement for Africa’s development and positioning within the international system. Focusing on selected African countries—South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya—the study finds that BRICS engagement, particularly through China and India, has significantly contributed to infrastructure development, energy expansion, and industrial capacity building across the continent. However, the partnership remains asymmetrical, shaped by unequal bargaining power, fragmented African representation, and predominantly bilateral engagements. Africa’s limited strategic coordination within BRICS constrains its ability to fully leverage the bloc for transformative development. The study argues that while BRICS presents an alternative to Western-dominated global governance structures, its potential to advance the African Renaissance depends largely on Africa’s agency, institutional capacity, and continental unity. The paper concludes by recommending stronger African Union coordination, effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), increased investment in African-led research, and a shift from resource-based engagement toward industrialization and technological developmentDownloads
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