Author: Sven Grimm

The BRICS bang! – Signals from BRICS enlargement to South, West and North

By Allgemein, Future of Globalisation

The BRICS group – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – invite six countries to join them for a BRICS+. The final list of invitees is an odd bunch: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran from the Middle East, Argentina from Latin America and Egypt and Ethiopia from Africa, with the former also being an Arab state. This decision on specific members came after apparently tough discussions amongst current membership, as interests varied widely. Yet, the return of geopolitics seems to have revitalised a disparate group. Why (only) these six, what are likely effects on international relations, and who’s benefitting most?

…

Read More+

Photo: View from a sailboat, We cannot assume that “we are all in the same boat”, even though we are all facing the same storm.

Zeitenwende – Investing in competencies for transnational cooperation

By Allgemein, Future of Globalisation, ,

Russia’s attack on Ukraine has put into sometimes sharp relief the different perspectives of inter- and transnational cooperation. The violation of the rules-based order after WWII caused shockwaves, specifically in Europe. Experiences of partners in, say, Africa or Asia with this international order historically differ from the European ones; consequently, even if we might share…

Read More+

Photo: Bright Sun on a landscape

“Zeitenwende”: The heat is on!

By Allgemein, Future of Globalisation, , , ,

Photo by jplenio on Pixabay Europe is facing some heat. Literally – with another heat wave grasping the continent – and figuratively with threats to the global order through Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Profound shifts are happening – with political answers too quick for some, and painfully slow when looking at evidence on the ultimate…

Read More+

UN General Assembly voting on Ukraine – What does it tell us about African states’ relations with external partners?

By Allgemein, Allgemein, Future of Globalisation, Future of Globalisation, , , , ,
Photo: Logo of the UN on blue ground

Picture by Chickenonline on Pixabay

On 2 March 2022, the UN General Assembly voted in a special emergency session on a resolution condemning the Russian attack on Ukraine. The General Assembly dealt with the issue on the basis of a referral from the Security Council, which was paralysed by a Russian veto. The resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire and clearly names Russia as the aggressor.…

Read More+