The future of multilateralism and de-dollarisation:
The 15th Brics Summit took place two months ago in Johannesburg — the first post the Covid-19 pandemic. The outcomes have sparked a wide variety of engagements globally.
Several developments came out of this major gathering. One of the biggest was what is known as “de-dollarisation”. This is centred around moving away from heavy reliance on the currency and the country which has historically, and contemporarily, continued to dominate trade, the US. This reliance on the US has been a growing issue, posing multiple socio-economic and political challenges for developing countries in the global south.
Three of the biggest reasons why the United States of America’s dollar has remained superior globally are its open capital markets, rule of law and long-standing and deeply entrenched financial instruments. This, of course, has come at the expense of “developing nations”, also known as low and middle-income countries, which are exploited by Western countries through their laws and the imposition of sanctions and fines.
Moreover, since developed/Western countries have found different ways to dominate and exploit developing countries, this has resulted in most countries in the global south digging themselves into debt which ends up granting power and control of their countries’ resources to developed countries.
Therefore, adopting a de-dollarisation strategy creates a way for these exploited countries to lessen the reliance their governments have on aid provided by the dollar as this aid is attached to risks to civil society.
Furthermore, although multilateralism is not a new approach to global economics — it has a history that dates back to World War ll — it has been flawed since it has been led by the US with agreements that benefited mainly Western countries.
This time around, according to a research paper written by Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung on “Shaping the Future of Multilateralism”, multilateralism will help provide a balance between more intra-African (formal) and cross-border (informal) trade. Doing so would create the necessary shift away from reliance on the West. This argument was recently emphasised at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung dialogue on 2 October 2023, in South Africa, on the future of multilateralism, not only in South Africa, but the entire global south.
The key supporting arguments that emanated from it regarding the future of multilateralism were centred around the values of multilateralism: collective development, commitment to sustainability, solidarity and mutual accountability.
This social and political project was collectively identified as one which would advance the global south economically, politically and socially as these countries relate to one another when it comes to global governance and the direction it should take.
What is interesting about this approach to global governance is that it does not focus on a “one-size-fits-all” ideology but rather the improvement of quality of life through collective action and various forms of internationalism.
This powerful multilateralism approach, along with its de-dollarisation strategy, has encouraged more countries in the global south, such as Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to join as full members of Brics in 2024. All these countries were able to identify major faults in the Western financial institutions, the International Monetary Fund
and the World Bank, including not having the best interests of the global south at heart.
It is on this basis that Brics countries seek to be able to provide development aid for themselves. When analysing this bloc expansion, one could say that there is a possibility of these different nations not getting along or agreeing on major decisions, especially long term.
However, the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to the relationship between these states, considering that they have common goals: to reduce the dominance of the US dollar in international trade and bypass the Western-style political economy and its exploitative financial regimes. Working towards these will enable more accessible international trade avenues.
One of the main tools for the expansion of the Brics bloc is the New Development Bank (NDB), a multilateral development bank established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa in 2014 to mobilise new investment opportunities, support economic growth across these countries and finance physical and digital infrastructure.
In a nutshell, by establishing the NDB, Brics seeks to expand the economies of developing countries which have been misrepresented by the Western monetary system as the multilateral system failed the global south.
Although it might take years for this collaboration to be fully effective, developing an inclusive multilateral approach, along with the banking and financial infrastructure to support a common currency among these nations, is possible. These nations are a step closer to living away from heavy reliance on the West.
A lot can be achieved when countries with similar challenges unite. Therefore, it is safe to consider the Brics expansion one of the most important collaborations in history.
Oyisa Sondlo is a PhD sociology candidate at the University of the Free State and an intern at Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.
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Obsession with power and control is a disease:
“Chaos is found in abundance wherever order is being sought, it always defeats order because it is better organised” – Ly Tin Wheedle
The need for control or to hold power can stem from a fear of uncertainty. A lot of times, it can also be associated with a mental health condition.
In this article we will dive deeper and attempt to answer the question of why people are power hungry.
Below is a picture that has been circulating on social media and can be found on the Facebook account of one of Lesotho’s MPs.
It is “no-confidence motion in the government of Lesotho”, hand-written on rather colourful paper, and assumed to have been penned by Machesetsa Mofomobe.
I believe if you follow the MP’s social media account, perhaps he might remind you of someone — or some people —- in South Africa.
Now back to the subject. Being in control of your life, and leading a nation, sounds like a positive thing but the two have distinct differences.
First, you can have supreme power over your life and how you want to live it, however, leading a nation is a lot more complicated.
If we can learn anything from current political events in Lesotho, it is that the need to control, and have power over, everything in your ambit is dangerous — especially where politics is involved.
Similar sentiments were shared by Lesotho’s Prime Minister Sam Matekane, who made bold statements in an interview, accusing some MPs of just wanting “to satisfy their self-interests”.
A quick question — do you ever feel the need to control everything and all events around you? Perhaps you see yourself as a perfectionist and expect high standards of yourself (and others). Do you tend to respond negatively when things don’t go according to plan or unexpectedly change? Perhaps you often find yourself mentally replaying situations as you regain a sense of control.
Like many factors of mental health, controlling behaviours are found on all levels of the spectrum — a good number of people experience them. However, the persistent need to control every situation is likely to put strain on your relationships and mental health. And, as you work on managing that need for control, it is useful to know where it comes from.
Power obsession.
The need for control can be linked to difficulty accepting defeat or uncertainty. By constantly working to exert control over every aspect of a situation, you may be trying to create a sense of security and predictability.
This need to be in control can, in turn, result from:
1. Traumatic events
Trauma — an incident that causes significant physical, emotional or psychological pain — can have a great influence on many aspects of our lives. It can result in a deep need for control and power.
Living with trauma can get you stuck in cognitive distortions, such as catastrophising. Catastrophising is the habit of always assuming the worst or having a negative reaction to any given event.
Then there is hypervigilance — when you experience increased alertness and frequently investigate your environment, expecting danger. The need to control everything could start unconsciously with an attempt to protect yourself against experiencing trauma again.
Research suggests feelings of needing to be in control over outcomes can mitigate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
However, excessive control can overwhelm your resources and affect your quality of life.
2. Childhood experiences
The environment mostly plays a critical role in your growth and development as a person. The place you grew up can affect how you see the world.
For example, growing up in a family that never included you in any decision-making can lead to the development of controlling behaviours as a coping mechanism.
Another example is living with guardians who had alcohol or substance-use disorders. This can have a negative effect on your relationships and your behaviour as an adult.
Children growing up in this kind of environment often have to face unexpected situations. As adults, they might have an intense need to control everything.
Growing up with emotionally unavailable parents, guardians or caregivers can also create a need to control your interactions with other people, in order to get reassurance and validation.
For example, anxious attachment styles are related to both unpredictable primary caregivers and a tendency to be controlling in relationships.
3. Personality disorders
An excessive need for control can sometimes be a symptom of certain personality disorders.
People with borderline personality disorder, for example, may feel intense fears of abandonment. This fear could lead them to want to control their interactions with others and their relationships, in an effort to stop people leaving them.
Some people living with narcissistic personality disorder also engage in controlling behaviours, such using manipulation tactics to direct situations in their favour.
4. Learned behaviours
The tendency to control can be a learnt behaviour, if this is something you experience growing up.
For example, having a parent who used to micromanage you or monitored everything you ate or did may lead you to repeat these patterns as an adult.
Perhaps you find reassurance in repeating these behaviours, or maybe you assume this is how things need to be managed at home. You could also confuse control in certain situations with caring for others.
From the dramatic political events of Lesotho, one can conclude by saying, power sought through force can never work and could be a sign of a mental challenge.
Childhood experiences contribute to the cognitive development of a person and often re-appear in their adult lives. Control and power might seem to taste sweet from afar, however, once seated, you start to feel the pinch that comes with the chair.
Control should in no way be the primary choice when bringing law and order or exposing corrupt politicians — or even teaching a lesson. Instead, when the urge presents itself, it is always a good idea to engage in coping mechanisms that will calm you down.
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Boycott Israeli imports, urges ANC at pro-Palestine rally:
ANC deputy secretary general Nomvula Mokonyane has urged South Africans to boycott imports from Israel in response to its retaliatory siege of Gaza following attacks by Hamas.
Speaking during a march to the Israeli embassy in Pretoria in solidarity with Palestine, Mokonyane reiterated the ruling party’s condemnation of Israel. She also called for the closure of the embassy.
“Down with the Israeli government, down. Down with the killing of people and the bombing of hospitals, down. The Israeli embassy must leave South Africa. The embassy must close and the ambassador must go. Boycott Israeli products,” Mokonyane said.
Speaking to the Mail & Guardian last week Mokonyane, who heads the ANC international relations committee, accused the Israeli embassy in South Africa of “arrogance” and unwillingness to engage about the conflict and called out the “inconsistencies” in how the world’s superpowers have reacted to it.
On Friday, Mokonyane reiterated South Africa’s calls for an immediate end to hostilities in the Middle East, the release of hostages and the establishment of humanitarian corridors.
The ANC said Friday’s march was aimed at raising awareness of the Palestinian people’s predicament and to advocate for peace talks between the warring parties.
In 2017, the ANC’s national policy conference decided to adopt a resolution made by the party in the Western Cape to downgrade South Africa’s embassy in Israel because of the expansion of Israeli settlements into Palestinian territories. That resolution would be brought to the elective conference where it would have to be approved before it could be put to government.
In 2019, then minister of international relations and co-operation Lindiwe Sisulu clarified that a decision had been made to not replace the ambassador.
The embassy, which would be downgraded to a liaison office, “will have no political mandate, no trade mandate and no development co-operation mandate”.
“It will not be responsible for trade and commercial activities,” Sisulu stated. However, consular services, such as visa issuing, remained in place.
On Thursday, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula told a media briefing that the former liberation movement would always stand with the Palestinians.
“We’ve got a democracy today that is flourishing, we’ve got everything in this country, because somebody, somewhere had to stand at the United Nations to say, ‘No apartheid, apartheid is an evil,’” he said.
“What is happening today in Palestine is evil and the ANC will be in the trenches and will be on the side of the Palestinian people.”
He questioned the US’s support for Israel, telling journalists: “There is a problem, there is a challenge in the Middle East and all of that, we will give you arms … that’s what happens. Where does the notion of peace come in from a state and a superpower like America?”
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