A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfillment of the Degree of Master of Arts (Development Studies) in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Zululand, 2017 / The role and importance of the so-called BRICS and the integration of South Africa into the grouping has been debated in the parlance of international relations. Many accounts have been made on this topic focusing mainly on the question of why South Africa sought BRICS membership and why it was granted the membership. These accounts do not only ignore the questions around the benefits and constraints for South Africa, but also bypasses the critical question of the impact of the grouping on the international monetary system and international financial institutions. This study therefore has been motivated by the desire to explore the prospects and the pros and cons that befall South Africa for being a member of the BRICS grouping. The study is also driven by the need to assess (to a lesser extent) the implications of the rise of the grouping to the international financial institutions. In order to fulfil these aims, a qualitative research method has been chosen. The study is strictly based on secondary sources such as textbooks, official documents from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, articles, magazines and newspapers, as well as internet resources. The analysis has been made possible through the employment of two theoretical frameworks: constructivism approach and theory of regional integration, both of which underpinned the study. Through extensive engagement with the literature reviewed and the historical analysis, the study found there are more prospects than constraints for the rainbow nation. The study also argues that the BRICS grouping would not make any substantial change to the nature of the international financial system at this stage, but would only make an additional balance of payment available to the countries requiring it. Therefore as recommendation, South Africa must think outside the framework of these groupings, and rely less on them for its advancements.

New financial institutions of BRICS are a new phenomenon in the context of international global finances. Since the beginning of the debate about creation of the BRICS financial institutions, a wide debate has emerged around the phenomenon, both in the academic and political spheres. The key element of the debate was the question, what role can BRICS play in the system of global governance. This thesis analyzes the phenomenon of the New Financial Institutions BRICS through the theoretical concept of the contested multilateralism and emphasizes that the new practices and rules of the given institutions lead to the creation of a regime complex in the field of international finance. Subsequently, the work through the method of content analysis of selected media explores the motivation of one of the BRICS member states, specifically Russia, to create these institutions. During the process of institution-building, motivations and objectives of Russia were not clear. This work aims to identify this motivation, which should contribute to a deeper understanding of possibilities for future development of the New Development Bank and The BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement.

Seminario para optar al grado de Ingeniero Comercial, Mención Administración / Hace más de 3 décadas un grupo de científicos informaba al mundo la devastadora responsabilidad que ha tenido el hombre en los procesos asociados al cambio climático. El aumento de las temperaturas y los cambios en la biodiversidad, provocados por la emisión CO2, han despertado el interés no solo de ambientalistas sino también de las organizaciones, tanto públicas como privadas, de generar estrategias que permitan no solo garantizar el uso de estos recursos para las actuales generaciones, sino también para las futuras. Por otro lado, la importancia que han adquirido los países del BRICS durante las últimas décadas y sus altas tasas de crecimiento económico obliga al mundo a preguntarse a qué costo se está generando este desarrollo. El objetivo del presente estudio se basa en determinar si todas las empresas abordan de igual manera las temáticas medioambientales o depende del nivel de desarrollo económico presente en cada uno de estos países. Por otro lado, el análisis se centra en las industrias de extracción y procesamiento de recursos naturales, lo cual permitirá determinar si, a su vez, existen diferencias dentro de estas industrias al momento de establecer las estrategias de sustentabilidad que tendrá cada una de las empresas pertenecientes a los países del BRICS. Para esto, se realiza un estudio cualitativo de análisis de contenido de respuesta que permite comparar las estrategias de sustentabilidad presentes en la encuesta desarrollada por “Carbon Disclosure Project” (CDP), la cual para el año 2010 recopiló información asociada al desempeño medioambiental de 1505 empresas de todo el mundo. Los principales resultados obtenidos en este estudio señalan que a pesar de que temas como la emisión de gases efecto invernadero o la optimización de procesos son comunes para países pertenecientes al BRICS como aquellos desarrollados, estos últimos centran sus preocupaciones en el desempeño corporativo a nivel mundial, plasmando estos temas en sus estrategias de sustentabilidad. Por otro lado, el estudio releva que existen diferencias en las estrategias de sustentabilidad dependiendo del tipo de industria que predomine en el país. Por ejemplo, para el caso de Brasil, el cual es el mayor productor de energía de los denominados países del BRICS, centra sus preocupaciones medioambientales en tópicos como la eficiencia energética y el uso de energía renovables en sus procesos. Es relevante recordar la importancia que tiene el presente estudio, debido a que éste permite generar hipótesis a utilizar en un próximo estudio con características cuantitativas, el cual permita determinar si los resultados obtenidos para estos países se extrapolan a todos los sectores de la economía, integrando así a China al análisis.

Internationalization of energy resources has led to a problem of the smooth functioning of the global energy industry , and now this problem has a greater influence on the entire system of international economic relations. One of the key instruments of the country under such circumstances becomes a foreign policy aimed at providing leadership and competitiveness in the world. The Russian Federation has a unique geographical and strategic position in Eurasia , the largest reserves of primary energy resources on the planet, has a well developed industrial infrastructure and a significant intellectual potential .

A dissertation submitted to the Department of History in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Faculty Arts at the University of Zululand, 2018. / Bilateral trade flows among the BRICS member states thus far have contributed mutually between the progressions of each country and continue to. Nevertheless, South Africa‘s economy does not allow it to continue lagging behind its alliance partners. South Africa needed to be robust when it comes to the trade agreements with the group, since South Africa‘s economy has been scrabbling in growth in the past few years. With South Africa‘s economy still experiencing pressure from the global economic slowdown and domestic structural bottlenecks including labour unrest, unemployment remains high especially among young Africans and income inequality has increased. Economic growth has been volatile as the country has had to cope with the consequences of global crises. With all of these challenges the country is facing, one can only ask about where the aid of the BRIC countries is. Conversely, South Africa‘s role as the member of BRICS still remains cognisance. The bilateral flows of BRICS countries still remain largely influenced by the gains of China, however with time, the export and import performance continue increasing the volume of trade of each BRICS country, which also alone increases each country‘s economic activities like the FDI and the in-flow and out-flows of imports and exports industry.1 The BRICS countries today present an opportunity as new growth poles in a multi-polar world. As demonstrated during the global crisis when they played a pivotal role by recovering fast from the crisis; more than just that, the BRICS countries as a unit carry the capacity of changing the world on account of both the threats and the opportunities they present economically, socially and politically.2 Analysts and international agencies suggest and advice that investors should pay careful attention to the opportunities offered by BRICS member states and the impact and influence they carry globally.

Submitted by Reginaldo Soares de Freitas (reginaldo.freitas@ufv.br) on 2018-05-28T18:10:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1647414 bytes, checksum: 953b876f3e027118c914141bacd0529b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-28T18:10:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1647414 bytes, checksum: 953b876f3e027118c914141bacd0529b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-01-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O ambiente institucional em que um país está inserido é um importante determinante de comércio e desenvolvimento econômico. Entendem-se, como instituições, regras para regular ações econômicas, políticas e sociais. Assim, uma boa qualidade institucional pode facilitar e melhorar as relações comerciais entre grupos países pelos menores custos de transações. Nesse sentido, dado o agrupamento do Brasil, Rússia, Índia, China e África do Sul como BRICS apresentar um comércio internacional acima da média mundial, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o efeito da qualidade do ambiente institucional político e econômico sobre as margens intensiva e extensiva de exportações do grupo, no período de 2000 a 2014. Especificamente, buscou-se: a) avaliar a evolução dos fluxos de comércio internacional de cada um dos países que compõem o BRICS; b) avaliar a qualidade do ambiente institucional político e econômico e identificar seus efeitos sobre o comércio internacional do grupo; c) identificar o efeito e a contribuição advinda da formação do grupo BRICS sobre as margens do comércio internacional; d) verificar o efeito do ambiente institucional de cada países do grupo sobre as margens do comércio internacional; e e) identificar os efeitos da heterogeneidade institucional sobre as margens extensiva e intensiva do comércio internacional do BRICS. O referencial teórico utilizado para fundamentar esta pesquisa se baseou na teoria do comércio internacional, teoria das instituições e no modelo gravitacional. A abordagem empírica utilizada compreendeu equações de gravidade, utilizando as variáveis dependentes valor transacionado das exportações do BRICS em US$ e margens extensiva e intensiva, calculadas com base em Hummels e Klenow (2005). A primeira equação se refere à variedade de produtos e a segunda, ao fluxo monetário. Para verificar o efeito da qualidade dos ambientes institucionais político e econômico, foram construídos dois índices com base nas variáveis de Kaufmann et al. (2004) (político) e de Bittencourt et al. (2016) (econômico). O procedimento de estimação das equações supracitadas foi um modelo em cross section repetido ao longo do tempo, com método de Seleção Amostral de Heckman por Máxima Verossimilhança (ML). A amostra utilizada no estudo considerou as exportações, desagregadas em 5.108 produtos de acordo com o sistema harmonizado em seis dígitos (SH-6), do BRICS para 54 principais parceiros comerciais no período de 2000 a 2014, totalizando uma amostra de 6.698.484 observações. De maneira geral, os resultados apontaram significante crescimento no mercado internacional do grupo, mas no que se refere à qualidade do ambiente institucional político e econômico, observou-se baixa qualidade institucional. No que se refere às margens intensiva e extensiva, notou-se que a China foi o principal país exportador (margem intensiva) e a África do Sul o país que exportou maior variedade de produtos (margem extensiva). Quanto aos resultados das equações estimadas, o agrupamento do BRICS contribuiu positivamente para as exportações do grupo, mas apenas no que se refere ao valor monetário transacionado; o ambiente institucional político do BRICS exportações indicou influência positiva sobre as em termos de fluxo de comércio e número de produtos; o ambiente institucional dos parceiros comerciais indicou que uma melhor qualidade institucional dos parceiros comerciais aumenta a variedade de produtos exportado; o ambiente institucional econômico do BRICS e dos principais parceiros comerciais indicou que uma melhor qualidade institucional econômica tende a aumentar as exportações tanto em número de produtos quanto em valor monetário; o ambiente institucional em cada país do grupo apresentou efeito positivo no Brasil, Rússia, China e Índia, comparativamente à África do Sul nos fluxos monetários e efeito negativo na gama de produtos; e a heterogeneidade institucional política e econômica mostrou que as disparidades institucionais entre os países da amostra afetam negativamente o comércio internacional do BRICS. Diante do exposto, em termos mundiais, os BRICS têm ainda baixa qualidade institucional política e econômica, apresentando estes fatores efeito positivo nas exportações do grupo. Sendo assim, buscar por melhorias nesses dois âmbitos pode melhorar as exportações desses países, seja no alcance de novos parceiros comerciais, seja no aumento do fluxo transacionado. / The institutional environment in which a country is inserted is an important determinant of trade and economic development. It is understood, as institutions, rules to regulate economic, political and social actions. Thus, good institutional quality can facilitate and improve trade relations between groups of countries by lower transaction costs. In this sense, given the grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as BRICS present an international trade above the world average, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of the quality of the political and economic institutional environment on the intensive and of the group's exports, from 2000 to 2014. Specifically, it was sought to: a) evaluate the evolution of the international trade flows of each of the BRICS countries; b) assess the quality of the political and economic institutional environment and identify its effects on the international trade of the group; c) identify the effect and contribution of the BRICS group on the international trade margins; d) verify the effect of the institutional environment of each group of countries on the margins of international trade; and e) identify the effects of institutional heterogeneity on the extensive and intensive margins of BRICS international trade. The theoretical framework used to base this research was based on international trade theory, institutional theory and the gravitational model. The empirical approach used included gravity equations, using the dependent variables transacted value of BRICS exports in US $ and extensive and intensive margins, calculated based on Hummels and Klenow (2005). The first equation refers to the variety of products and the second to the monetary flow. In order to verify the quality effect of the political and economic institutional environments, two indices were constructed based on the variables of Kaufmann et al. (2004) (political) and Bittencourt et al. (2016) (economic). The estimation procedure of the above equations was a cross section model repeated over time, using the Heckman Sampling Selection by Maximum Likelihood (ML) method. The sample used in the study considered exports, broken down into 5,108 products according to the BRICS six-digit harmonized system (SH-6) for 54 major trading partners in the period from 2000 to 2014, totaling a sample of 6,698,484 observations . In general, the results showed a significant growth in the international market of the group, but with regard to the quality of the political and economic institutional environment, a low institutional quality was observed. With regard to the intensive and extensive margins, it was noted that China was the main exporting country (intensive margin) and South Africa the country that exported a greater variety of products (extensive margin). Regarding the results of the estimated equations, the BRICS group contributed positively to the group's exports, but only with regard to the monetary value transacted; the BRICS political institutional environment indicated a positive influence on exports in terms of trade flow and number of products; the institutional environment of trading partners has indicated that a better institutional quality of trading partners increases the variety of products exported; the economic institutional environment of the BRICS and the main trading partners indicated that a better institutional quality of the economy tends to increase exports in terms of both number of products and monetary value; the institutional environment in each country of the group had a positive effect in Brazil, Russia, China and India compared to South Africa in monetary flows and a negative effect on the product range; and political and economic institutional heterogeneity has shown that institutional disparities among the sample countries negatively affect BRICS international trade. In the light of the above, BRICS still has low political and economic institutional quality, and these factors have a positive effect on the Group's exports. Therefore, seeking improvements in these two areas can improve the exports of these countries, either in the reach of new trading partners, or increasing the flow of trade.

Submitted by RENATO XAVIER DOS SANTOS null (renatoxavier12@gmail.com) on 2017-05-11T14:19:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Renato Xavier BRICS versão UNESP final.pdf: 1120526 bytes, checksum: aa04b315db7a84825603b0fdbfbd2574 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-05-12T13:28:48Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_rx_me_mar.pdf: 1120526 bytes, checksum: aa04b315db7a84825603b0fdbfbd2574 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T13:28:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_rx_me_mar.pdf: 1120526 bytes, checksum: aa04b315db7a84825603b0fdbfbd2574 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O objetivo do trabalho é analisar o papel do discurso na formação do BRICS. A hipótese é que os discursos possibilitaram a aproximação entre os cinco países e forjaram uma identidade contingencial entre Brasil, Rússia, Índia, China e, posteriormente, África do Sul. Para testar a hipótese, será utilizado o referencial teórico pós-estruturalista de Laclau e Mouffe (1985), bem como o dos teóricos das Relações Internacionais que trabalham com identidade e discurso nos estudos de política externa. Como metodologia, foram eleitos 22 discursos proferidos pelos líderes dos países BRICS no âmbito da Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas, com um recorte temporal de 2002 a 2009. Além disso, será analisado o documento resultante da I Reunião de Cúpula do BRIC, em 2009. Com isso, pretende-se testar alguns elementos discursivos presentes no BRICS para demonstrar a formação do arranjo a partir de uma identidade contingencial. Os elementos discursivos a serem investigados são os seguintes: (1) contingência do discurso; (2) identidade relacional; (3) pratica articulatória; (4) discurso hegemônico. O discurso é um complexo de elementos dados a partir de um conjunto de relações. No âmbito das relações internacionais, as interações acontecem em diversos campos da política. Particularmente, a Organização das Nações Unidas é uma importante arena de embate político, mas também de cooperação entre as nações. Por aglutinar diversas demandas específicas, a Organização das Nações Unidas é um dos principais espaços de interação social, no qual os Estados e outros agentes sociais procuram representar, significar e ressignificar as relações sociais. As relações diplomáticas também são capazes de criar novas percepções sobre o mundo. Dessas interações, novas identidades são construídas ou reconstruídas e interpretadas à luz da linguagem discursiva. / The objective of this work is to analyze the role of discourse in the formation of BRICS. The hypothesis is that the discourses made possible the approximation between the five countries and forged a contingent identity between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. To test the hypothesis, we will use the post-structuralist theoretical framework of Laclau and Mouffe (1985), as well as that of International Relations theorists who work with identity and discourse in foreign policy studies. In terms of methodology, it will be analyzed 22 speeches delivered by the leaders of BRICS countries at General Assembly of the United Nations from 2002 to 2009. In addition, the document resulting from the I BRIC Summit, in 2009, will be studied. Therefore, we intend to test some discursive elements present in the BRICS to demonstrate the formation of the arrangement from a contingencial identity. The discursive elements to be investigated are the following: (1) contingency of discourse; 2) relational identity; (3) articulatory practice; (4) hegemonic discourse. Discourse is a complex of elements given from a set of relations. In the context of international relations, interactions take place in various fields of politics. In particular, the United Nations is an important arena of political struggle, but also of cooperation among nations. Because it brings together several specific demands, the United Nations is one of the main spaces of social interaction, in which States and other social agents seek to represent, signify and re-signify social relations. Diplomatic relations are also capable of creating new insights about the world. From these interactions, new identities are constructed or reconstructed and interpreted in the light of discursive language.

Stock exchanges on the African continent need accelerated development in order to attract and utilise capital inflows optimally for development of the continent. The growth of the BRICS capital markets has been notable in the past 10 years. The purpose of this research paper is to take the experiences of the BRICS stock exchanges, both positive and negative, and use them to build a model for the accelerated growth of stock exchanges on the African continent. Exploratory interviews were conducted with the representative BRICS exchanges and the information gleaned was used to construct questionnaires for selected African exchanges, the Africa 5. Inclusion into the Africa 5 was based on the McKinsey “Lions on the Move” model. Findings indicated the importance of an enabling regulatory and policy environment, which had been expected, based on the literature. Unexpected findings included the necessity for there to be courageous and visionary leadership in the capital markets, at regulatory, policy and stock exchange level. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / lmgibs2014 / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / MBA / Unrestricted

Magister Legum - LLM / This research is based on the premise that the BRICS group is a movement directed at the rebalancing power and wealth that may put an end to the domination of developed countries in the multilateral trading system. In order to effectively explore the role of BRICS in the further development of the multilateral trading system, this research poses the following questions: 1- What is the legal and institutional framework of the BRICS group and how does this framework relate to the objectives of BRICS group? 2- What is the interaction between the WTO and BRICS countries in the multilateral trading system? 3- What is the position of BRICS countries in the decision making process in the multilateral trading system? This research assesses the rise of the BRICS group, in relation to the participation of developing countries within the WTO. It presents some aspects regarding the challenges and complications that developing countries face in their participation in the multilateral trading system. The research further seeks to explore if this participation allows for more democratic development of the current multilateral trading system.

This thesis deals with motives of the South Africa's inclusion to BRIC countries and examines the impact of this inclusion on South Africa. It explores the question whether South Africa "deserves" the inclusion to BRIC countries and what characteristics connect it with these economies. The thesis also analyzes the BRICS bloc, the current situation in these economies, their cooperation and performing on the global scene.