Policy Insights 141 - BRICS XV: Expectations for South Africa’s 2023 chair

In anticipating South Africa’s 2023 chair, this paper tracks the progress on the commitments listed above and engages on the expectations of South Africa.3 Challenges to the BRICS vision of global and economic governance The world in 2023 is vastly different to when South Africa chaired BRICS in 2018. [...] A challenge is that, while South Africa has a position on this matter, as others do, it stands the risk of getting swept up in the geopolitics of bigger regional players.5 There is a resurgence of non-alignment in the global South, signaling a possible rising trend in how the BRICS interpret global matters The global humanitarian crisis is worsened by the continued economic disruption of the COVID. [...] Regardless, in the context of changing global dynamics, there is also a call to revitalize the India, Brazil, South Africa – or IBSA – grouping as a coalition to recalibrate how BRICS as a bloc interprets emerging issues and shift focus away from the strongest partners, China and Russia.7 South Africa may face increased expectations around the impact of BRICS on the global order, as well as the or. [...] Therefore, third parties may be part of 8 Government of the Republic of South Africa, the Presidency, Summary Booklet of the Operation Vulindlela, (March 20, 2021); Government of the Republic of South Africa, the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, (October, 2020). [...] The people-to-people pillar of cooperation is concentrated among elite circles or those who engage in the various tracks of diplomacy, so BRICS’ vision of all citizens being able to benefit from the partner- ship is vested in the BRICS countries’ abilities to localize the outcomes of the partnership.