Conduit for economic growth and development? Exploring South Africa and Brazil’s BRICS membership

Abstract

For decades, the most used mainstream model for economic growth and development was that used and promoted by the global north. However, this model has not seen the same results in the developing global south as it has in the developed global north. BRICS emerged as an organisation that presented an alternative means to the global north’s approach to economic growth and development. This article examines whether BRICS membership has fostered the economic growth and development of South Africa and Brazil. This article examines the five years before and after Brazil and South Africa joined BRICS. Key findings of the study are that economic growth and development gains have been minimal. The study concludes that Brazil and South Africa have achieved political gains from their BRICS membership, which is considered to offset the absence of tangible economic growth and development gains.