Social, Political and Cultural Challenges of the BRICS

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Social, Political and Cultural Challenges of the BRICS
Editors: Gustavo Lins Ribeiro, Tom Dwyer, Antonádia Borges, Eduardo Viola
Publisher: Langaa RPCID
Publication Year: 2014
Language: Portuguese and English (bilingual edition)

About this Book

This volume is a collection of scholarly papers emerging from the 2013 ANPOCS International Symposium, which focused on the social, political, and cultural challenges facing the BRICS countries. The symposium gathered around 30 researchers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, representing disciplines such as anthropology, political science, sociology, and international relations.

The book is divided into three main sections:

Development and Public Policies in the BRICS – examines social justice, development policies, and governance challenges in each BRICS country, highlighting local perspectives and the role of social sciences in analyzing policy outcomes.
Contemporary Transformations and Re-assignment of Political and Cultural Meaning – explores political and cultural changes, including recognition politics, social inclusion, and contestation against entrenched social systems.
Emergent Powers and Transformations in the International System – analyzes the global roles of BRICS countries in trade, energy, climate change, and macroeconomic governance, while critically assessing their influence and limitations in reshaping international systems.

The book aims to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of the BRICS, emphasizing both national and international perspectives. It is intended for scholars and students in social sciences, as well as policymakers and practitioners interested in emerging economies.

Contents

Presentation

Social, political and cultural challenges of the BRICS: a symposium, a debate, a book – Gustavo Lins Ribeiro

Part One: Development and Public Policies in the BRICS

Social sciences and the BRICS – Tom Dwyer
Development, social justice and empowerment in contemporary India: a sociological perspective – K. L. Sharma
India’s public policy: issues and challenges & BRICS – P. S. Vivek
From the minority points of view: a dimension for China’s national strategy – Naran Bilik
Liquid modernity, development trilemma and ignoledge governance: a case study of ecological crisis in SW China – Zhou Lei
The global position of South Africa as BRICS country – Freek Cronjé
Development public policies, emerging contradictions and prospects in the post-apartheid South Africa – Sultan Khan

Part Two: Contemporary Transformations and Re-assignment of Political and Cultural Meaning in the BRICS

Political-economic changes and the production of new categories of understanding in the BRICS – Antonádia Borges
South Africa: hopeful and fearful – Francis Nyamnjoh
The modern politics of recognition in BRICS’ cultures and societies: a Chinese case of superstition becoming intangible cultural heritage – Bingzhong Gao
Zindabad! Modern contestation against the caste system in India – Pedro Lara de Arruda and Asleigh Kate Slingsby
Socio-economic inclusion and justice: a comparative study of BRICS countries with a focus on India – Praveen Jha and Amit Chakraborty
Income security systems in comparative perspective: Brazil and South Africa – Maria Paula Gomes dos Santos

Part Three: Emergent Powers and Transformations in the International System

The BRICS in the international system: very relevant countries, but a group of limited importance – Eduardo Viola
Is the BRICS a harbinger of a new matrix of global governance in trade, energy and climate change? – Alexander Zhebit
South Africa in the international politics of climate and energy – Kathryn Hochstetler
Brazilian climate and energy policies and politics in the 21st century – Eduardo Viola and Matías Franchini
Resource rents, resource nationalism and innovation policy: perspectives on Africa and the BRICS – Michael Kahn