DOI: 10.3897/brics-econ.7.e156373

Authors: Muzi Shoba

Abstract: The bilateral relations between South Africa and the United States are at a crossroads. Since the apartheid era, these countries have gone through different stages of cooperation and periods of tension. Today, although they consider each other strategic partners, the two countries are facing increased diplomatic disagreements. These disagreements arise from South Africa’s growing diplomatic alignment with China, Russia and Iran, which oppose US international policies, and its active involvement in the BRICS association. This paper argues that South Africa’s cooperation with China, Russia, and other BRICS countries strongly affects the US’s perception of the country and determines its policy towards South Africa. The paper maintains that the South Africa’s case against Israel before the International Court of Justice and the passage of the Expropriation Act have strained its relations with the United States. This led to concerns regarding the future of bilateral trade agreements, such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The paper is framed around constructivist theory and uses a qualitative methodology based on secondary sources. It concludes that the China-Russia-BRICS factor is central to the current diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the United States, its strategic partner.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/brics-econ.6.e146809

Authors: Svetlana Semyshkina, Aleksandra Rodina

Abstract: Paradigm shifts in management, reflected in new management concepts, have become common in the modern world. According to some of these concepts, human relationships have taken over the fundamental role in the organization, the corporate structure is becoming more flexible and there is no longer room for tight control. This paper aims to analyze management paradigm shifts in terms of spiral dynamics. It follows from the literature that the generally accepted management concepts can be related to the levels of spiral dynamics. Evidence from the BRICS countries shows that, as the level of spiral dynamics increases, management concepts tend to become more people-oriented or humanistic. The paper contributes to the theory of management; its findings are also intended for practical use in managing change and issues related to organizational culture.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/brics-econ.5.e129880

Authors: Anna Mishina, Denis Andreyuk, Wenbo Xu

Abstract: The paper seeks to explore the core life values of people living in Russia and China using an online survey in the respondents’ native languages with samples of 887 and 559 participants from each country respectively, who were asked to think of three words associated ‘with something most important in life’. The word-association arrays were translated into English by an automatic translator; then we compared the frequencies of individual words or those of their meanings obtained using the Roget’s Thesaurus. The words ‘family’ and ‘love’ were the most frequent in both samples, but the frequencies of these and most of the other words from the semantic core of each sample differed significantly. Analyses at the level of semantic vectors showed that more than half of the meanings that Russian respondents described as important and more than a third of the meanings important to the Chinese respondents had significant differences in frequencies between the samples. The paper presents 62 semantic groups of the Roget’s Thesaurus, the frequencies of which are reliably different; these are the meanings in which the Chinese and Russian samples differ with regard to life values. There are also 26 semantic groups, the frequencies of which are statistically the same and comparatively high in both samples: these are the common meanings. The results may be used in the design of automatic and AI systems to reduce the intercultural barriers.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/brics-econ.5.e120897

Authors: Kumar Akhilesh

Abstract: Science, technology, and Innovation (STI) have been the cornerstone of China’s Reform and Opening-up processes. Employing a hybrid methodology, including textual analysis, this paper asserts that four decades of reform and opening-up have witnessed STI’s pivotal role across sectors despite numerous challengesб such as economic slowdown, growing disparities, environmental issues, and a huge burden on the state-owned enterprises. China’s substantial investments in the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and New Energy Vehicles, exemplify its commitment to innovation, reflected in over 2.5% of GDP allocated for research and development in 2022. This robust investment has bolstered China’s innovative capabilities and brought about its high ranking on the Global Innovation Index. In Chinese STI politics and policy-making, the programs like MLP-2006, SEI-2010 and Made in China 2025 have created a watershed moment. Three central research questions guide our exploration: the trajectory of policy framing on STI-Driven development, the theoretical underpinnings of Innovation-Driven Development and Green Development in Chinese STI politics, and the significance of these paradigms in China’s context. This paper also hypothesizes the emergence of two distinct trajectories within China’s STI politics through the adoption of Innovation-Driven Development and Green Development, positioning STI at the core of China’s development paradigm. The study thoroughly dissects China’s official discourse, framing these paradigms within the Sustainable Development context and highlighting their crucial roles in China’s journey toward technological advancement and sustainability. The analysis of the evolution of China’s STI policy as portrayed in official discourse offers insights into the strategic role played by science, technology, and Innovation in moulding China’s socio-economic trajectory alongside global implications stemming from its transformative development agenda.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/brics-econ.4.e101050

Authors: Mohamad Zreik

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on China in terms of both health and economic crises and to provide an in-depth analysis of the government’s economic policies in response to the crisis. To achieve this, the study analyzes data on the spread and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and the data on the Chinese economy and government initiatives to stimulate economic growth. The study draws on relevant literature to contextualize the effects of past crises on the global economy. The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Chinese economy, resulting in the first annual decline in growth since 1976. The government’s response to the crisis focused on job security rather than economic growth. The study also revealed that the government implemented various measures to stimulate the economy, such as tax relief, loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, and investments in infrastructure projects. The study provides insight into the effectiveness of the government’s economic policies in response to the crisis and offers important scientific findings on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on China’s economy and public health. The study highlights the challenges faced by China in responding to the crisis and provides valuable lessons for other countries. The study’s contribution lies in its thorough analysis of the Chinese case and its potential to serve as a model for other economies in the post-pandemic era.

HTML

XML

PDF

DOI: 10.3897/brics-econ.4.e99323

Authors: Francesco Petrone

Abstract: After the dramatic event which humanity has experienced, the Covid-19 pandemic, innumerable questions arise concerning the future of the international system. The pandemic highlighted many contradictions within this system: first of all, the logic of divisions covered by the dichotomy “the West and the rest” has proved to be obsolete as it often generated conflicting positions on the issues that concern the whole humanity, such as the distribution of vaccines. It has also demonstrated the need to seek out ways to improve cooperation and design effective multilateral policies, especially given the other global challenges, many of which will require swift action: we primarily refer to the climate change and, more generally, to the reform of global governance (GG) towards a more democratic system. In this context, the role of the BRICS is fundamental for several reasons. First, the BRICS have repeatedly demanded greater democratization of GG, and their actions seem to be aimed at creating more inclusive decision-making processes in international forums, such as the United Nations and the G20. Furthermore, the BRICS are a group of countries fighting for greater multilateralism, especially at the financial level. Finally, owing to their economic and political weight and the size of the population, the BRICS countries are crucial for building the foundations of the future, more inclusive, international relations as they may guarantee the multilateral character of the reformed GG. As a group, they represent a sustainable partnership that has great potential for laying the foundations of a different type of global architecture. In this paper we discuss the strategic role that the BRICS could play in the future of multilateralism despite the existing limitations. We do this through the lens of the global development theory that shows the importance of sharing common practices and narratives and overcoming divergences between the global North and South, especially in a post-Covid perspective.

HTML

XML

PDF