Contemplating Brics “New World Order” with dread!

1 September 2023

Dread the thought of the kind of “New World Order” the BRICS wish to launch. Surely if one of the main aims of the organization is to bring into being a “New World Order” you would think that adherence to and respect for human rights values should be first and foremost on the minds of the deciding nations.? In particular South Africa reflexively self-promotes its policies as “progressive”.

Which can only mean that it prioritizes the advancement of human rights. Resulting from its long and traumatic history of racial discrimination it would be incumbent if not mandatory for South Africa to place an emphasis on respect for human rights and dignity. Whilst Naledi Pandor mouths these virtuous sentiments, in practice there is a huge disjuncture:

“We call for the respect of democracy and human rights. …We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.”.

On the DIRCO website there is acknowledgement of the fact that “South Africa’s democratic transition was enabled, in no small part, by an active international commitment to democracy and human rights. DIRCO has proclaimed the same commitment ever since.” Scrutiny of the DIRCO website however reveals only references to “Ubuntu” and the Constitution (Chapter 10) as inspirations of our foreign policy.

Chapter 10 however deals primarily with good governance. There is a glaring absence of the pivotal role of human rights as a foundational motivation determining our foreign policy. An analysis of our foreign policy by the Helen Suzman Foundation, declared:

“.. South Africa’s behaviour in the foreign policy arena is erratic at best, and often in violation of its foreign policy commitments”.

Drunk with hubris at the accession of five new members to the BRICS club, where it appears that the only criteria for accepting new members is that all existing members achieve consensus and unanimity. Clearly the human rights records of each of these ascending states was irrelevant as a consideration, because each and every new member are amongst the world’s worst abusers of human rights. Lest we forget the Biblical aphorism Proverbs 13:20, “Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.” The maxim being that we are judged by the company we keep.

According to Minister Naledi Pandor another guiding principle of our foreign policy that was considered as a criterion for membership of BRICS was adherence to international law and support for resolutions of the United Nations. This stipulation is diametrically opposed to the actions and policies of existing members, Russia and China.

Shamefully South Africa contorted and corrupted its own standards and principles by turning a “blind eye” to serial offenders Russia and China. Russia, already the largest territory on earth, has serially attacked its neighbours, Georgia, Chechnia and Ukraine with the intent of territorial acquisition and aggrandizement. Even in the Polar regions Russia displays its imperialistic ambitions by laying claim to territory based on the geomorphology of the continental shelf.

China has unilaterally extended its suzerainty over the whole South China Sea, flagrantly ignoring the rights and legitimate claims of the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Of even more concern is its “One China” policy which completely repudiates Taiwan’s right to exist as an independent state. Its systematic destruction of Tibet and Tibetan culture is in flagrant breach of every human right-population displacement, rights to free and fair elections, religious freedom and rights to maintain their language and culture.

Its treatment of the Uighurs and mass internment of millions of them in internment camps, where they are cleansed of their culture calls for condemnation by all who claim to uphold “progressive” values. These aggressive actions are not only in flagrant violation of international law, which respects the borders of independent states, but let’s call it out for what it is, “revanchist imperialism”.

South Africa cannot claim to be “neutral´ or “non-aligned” while it fails to condemn Russia or China for breaching the very principles they espouse and which are the very foundation stone of their inter-relations. One cannot hide behind neutrality while human rights are being violated and international laws are being transgressed.

South Africa tends to vent its spleen on the West not only for colonialism but for the Bretton Woods economic structure which governs the world economy. All historically colonialist states, should have a heightened sensitivity to the ills and sufferings imposed on the “indigenous“ peoples as a consequence of imperialistic rule.

South Africa and others in the grouping who base their anti-western stance on the damages caused during the colonial pasts mainly by Western states, are being less than honest for overlooking the current indiscretions and aggressive imperialist intentions of their fellow cohorts, namely Russia and China. They are the current arch colonialists and embracing them is not going to lead to a better world order.

South Africa has made choices to associate with states whose hands are dripping with blood and in the fulfilment of time, our hands too will be sullied by acquiescence with their criminality.

Ben Levitas