International trends / Op-Ed/Article
India, Brazil and South Africa: emerging powers or developing countries?
10/10/2007 By Sarah-Lea John de Sousa
India, Brazil and South Africa have a remarkable role in their respective regions and their international influence is increasing.
The three emerging south powers are participating more actively in the international forums like the United Nations Organization (UNO), the World Trade Organization (WTO) ant the summit of the G-8 clebrated in Germany in June 2007.
In addition to its increasing impact in the multilateral institutions, India and South Africa are strategic partners of the European Union (EU) and Brazil has got this year the same status.
The United States also recognizes the increasing importance of these countries, and Washington has intensified its relations with Brasilia, New Delhi and Pretoria. But for assuming this remarkable role like global actors, India, Brazil and South Africa have to get through their domestic and regional problems which are limiting the projection of their power.
Intending to increase their impact in the decision making process at the international level and to intensify the trilateral cooperation, the ministries of foreign affiars have formalized their relations with the creation of the Dialogue Forum IBSA in September 2003.
The three governments agree on the main foundations of their policies: the promotion of democracy, peace and stability, development; the struggle against hunger, poverty and social inequality at national and international levels.
Additionaly India, Brazil and South Africa are three big democracies which have a pluralism of cultures, religions, races and languages and they have to find solutions for similar internal problems.
Article published in: El debate político, Revista Iberoamericana de Análisis Político, Año 4, Nº 6/7, Buenos Aires, octubre 2007
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Publishing groups
IBSA: India, Brazil, South AfricaKeywords
Asia Brazil India Latin America & Caribbean Multipolarity South Africa Southern AfricaRelated publications
Bio author: Sarah-Lea John de Sousa
MA in Regional Sciences of Latin America (RWL) from the University of Cologne and currently studying her PhD in International Relations at the University Complutense of Madrid. Sarah-Lea John de Sousa has been development project manager at the agency Chuconsultig Germany.
