Brics or Basic? For many a year mere mention of the term Bric has been guaranteed to set South African officials' teeth grinding.
It is not that South Africa can claim its stuttering commodity- dependent economy can rival any of the Brics', in scale, potential or sparkle. But as the economic powerhouse of sub-Saharan Africa, since the end of apartheid South Africa has long dreamt of being a global player – and been frustrated by the fascination of so many economists with the big four emerging economies.
Now, however, South Africa is daring to dream again, as is Jacob Zuma, its sometime controversial leader, who just may have found a compelling geopolitical theme for his nine-month-old presidency.
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