Reimagining development through BRICS: South African scholarly perspectives on inclusive development

Zhang, Charli Sitong

Reimagining development through BRICS: South African scholarly perspectives on inclusive development

Thesis / Dissertation

2026

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Sociology

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

This dissertation investigates South African scholarly perspectives on the BRICS formation as both a mechanism for addressing national development challenges and a platform for reshaping global development governance. It explores two core research questions: (1) how South African scholars perceive BRICS's capacity to address South Africa's domestic development priorities, and (2) how they interpret BRICS's potential to advance inclusive, equitable global development governance. Drawing on qualitative interviews with South African academics and policy researchers, and situated within a conceptual framework of African agency, epistemic justice, and inclusive development, the study identifies a cautiously optimistic assessment of BRICS's relevance. Scholars highlight the New Development Bank's sovereign, non-conditional lending; its support for infrastructure and green development; and initiatives to promote local currency financing as positive departures from traditional conditionalities. BRICS is viewed as a complementary platform—one that provides political space for asserting development sovereignty and challenging dominant global governance norms. While recognising internal and domestic constraints, scholars contend that South Africa's engagement with BRICS can be strategically leveraged to support national priorities and epistemic reform. This dissertation contributes to African-centred scholarship by foregrounding local voices and proposing BRICS as a site for reimagining development governance beyond the confines of Western-led institutions.