Russian economic initiatives as perceived by South Africans

Occupation: Senior Researcher, Centre for Southern African Studies, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Affiliation: Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 11

Pages

22-30

Abstract

In recent years, Russia has sought to establish itself as an important economic partner in South Africa for the first time. Russia has ‘image’ problems that have complicated its economic interaction with South Africa. The image of Russia in the collective consciousness of South Africans is formed primarily by local journalists, politicians and public figures. However, in South Africa, there are no popular publications and websites that consistently support the government’s efforts to strengthen trade and economic cooperation with Russia.

South Africans see Russian initiatives as an alternative to the Western and Chinese influence on the local economy. For South Africans, their respect for Western values, achievements and culture is balanced by their rejection of the Western political and economic hegemony. Thus, South Africans see Russia as a potential counterbalance rather than a substitute for its Western partners.

Apparently, most South Africans consider economic cooperation with Russia desirable. But the failed and controversial attempts by Russian state-owned companies to participate in important government projects have make the South African public wary of such efforts.

The experience of Russian private companies shows that effective cooperation with South Africa is possible if Russian businesses are prepared to work there long and methodically, adapt to the local conditions and face stiff competition from Western and Chinese firms.

Keywords

Republic of South Africa, Russian-South African cooperation, image of Russia, South African mass media, Russian investments

Received

16.07.2021

Publication date

24.11.2021

Number of characters

26293

Cite

GOST	Gorelik B. Russian economic initiatives as perceived by South Africans // Asia and Africa Today – 2021. – Issue 11 C. 22-30 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750017408-0-1 (circulation date: 05.05.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750017408-0
MLA	Gorelik, Boris M "Russian economic initiatives as perceived by South Africans." Asia and Africa Today 11 (2021):22-30. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750017408-0
APA	Gorelik B. (2021). Russian economic initiatives as perceived by South Africans. Asia and Africa Today (11), pp.22-30 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750017408-0

100 rub.

When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 431

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. Sugakov G.K. 2019. Comparative Assessment of Investment Attractiveness of African Countries for Russian Capital. Journal of the Institute for African Studies. № 4. Moscow. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31132/2412-5717-2019-49-4-118-126

2. Maryam J., Banday U.J., Mittal A. Trade intensity and revealed comparative advantage: an analysis of Intra-BRICS trade. Inter-national Journal of Emerging Markets. 2018, Vol. 13, № 5, pp. 1182-1195. DOI: 10.1108/IJoEM-09-2017-0365

3. Davidson A., Filatova I. 2010. Russia and South Africa: Three Centuries of Contacts. Moscow. (In Russ.)

4. Abramova I., Fituni L. 2019. Russia’s new strategy in the African direction. World Eсonomy and International Relations. Vol. 63, № 12 (In Russ.). DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2019-63-12-90-100

5. Sadovskaya L.M. 1999. Communications within the system of political culture (the interaction of the elite and the masses, the Africans’ access to information). Africa: Patterns of Political Culture. Journal of the Institute for African Studies. Iss. 12. Moscow. (In Russ.)

6. Shubin V. 2020. Russia and South Africa: imagination and reality. Emergency Supply. № 132 (In Russ.)

7. Garmashova I. South African perceptions of Russians: A personified portrait. Language Matters. 2001, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 79-95. DOI: 10.1080/10228190108566173

8. Arkhangelskaya A.A., Filatova I.I., Shubin G.V. 2010. What do South Africans think of us? Russia-Africa: New Goals for Our Relations. Moscow. (In Russ.)

9. Gerogi D.G., Georgi F.V., Maslov A.A. et al. 2010. The Attitude of the Peoples and the Elites of African Countries to the Leading World Powers (Russia, USA, China). Moscow. (In Russ.)

10. Bondarenko D.M. 2010. The double-headed eagle on a red background: “The Soviet legacy” in Russia’s image in the consciousness of Africans. Russia-Africa: New Goals for Our Relations. Moscow. (In Russ.)

11. Gorelik B.M. 2010. On the dark side of the Earth. Russian women in South Africa. Africa. A Gender Dimension. Gender Studies Series. Vol. 12. Moscow. (In Russ.)

12. Gorelik B.M. 2007. Russian Immigration to South Africa: The Past and the Present. Moscow.

13. Banshchikova A.A. 2010. Russia’s image in Nigeria and Tanzania: information sources and aspects of perception. Africans and Russians at the Crossroads of History. Moscow. (In Russ.)

14. Halsall T., Wassermann J. 2018. A comparative investigation into the representation of Russia in apartheid and post-apartheid era South African History textbooks. Yesterday and Today. Vol. 19, July. DOI: 10.17159/2223-0386/2018/n18a4

15. Olivier G. 2021. How the country can succeed in its bid to be re-embraced by the world. Business Day. 13 January, p. 7.

16. Qobo M. 2010. Russia is an important country for SA to grow relations with. The Sunday Independent. 8 August.

17. Sidiropoulos E, Alden C. Inside the Russia-Africa Matryoshka: Summitry, Geopolitics and Resources. A Working Paper, October 2019. Pretoria: South African Institute of International Relations, 2019.

18. Hendricks C., Majozi N. 2021. South Africa’s international relations: A new dawn? Journal of Asian and African Studies. Vol. 56, № 1, pp. 64-78. DOI: 10.1177/0021909620946851

19. Qobo M., Dube M. 2015. South Africa’s foreign economic strategies in a changing global system. South African Journal of International Affairs. Vol. 22, № 2, pp. 145-164. DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2015.1054304

20. Callaghan N., Kachur D., Swilling M. 2020. China and Russia in Africa: Development allies or geopolitical opportunists? https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-08-05-china-and-russia-in-africa-development-allies-or-geopolitical-opportunists/ (accessed 02.06.2021)

21. Allison S. 2019. Russia in Africa: Soft power comes with hard edges. Mail & Guardian. 24 October.

22. Faull L. 2015. Exposed: Scary details of SA’s secret Russian nuke deal. Mail & Guardian. 13 February.

23. Schoeman A. 2017. DA vra vrae oor Russe se kontrak. Rapport. 17 September, p. 8.

24. Williams M. 2018. Zuma’s Russian roulette. The Citizen. 14 February.

25. Wa Afrika M., Jika T. 2017. Zuma’s pals in R5bn gas deal. Sunday Times. 17 September, pp. 2-6.

26. Leon T. Fools are Russian in. The Times (Johannesburg). 2017, 6 September.

27. Haffajee F. 2020. Malema goes nuclear on Eskom’s future. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-03-01-malena-goes-nuclear-on-eskoms-future (accessed 15.06.2021).

28. Khumalo A. 2016. Highveld Steel saga draws to a sorry close. Sunday Times. 21 February, p. 56.

29. Pressly D. 2010. ANC link to Russian mining venture emerges. The Star. 19 April.

30. Rademeyer J., Maker J. 2006. Exposed: New taxis are death traps. Sunday Times. 17 September, p. 1.