At the end of March, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will be coming together for the fifth summit of the BRICS to create a separate BRICS Development Bank. Thanks to their enhanced status as regional powers, their global ambitions to exert influence in matters of politics and defence have increased at the same time, linked to clear interests in raw materials and export. By encouraging the rule of law, Germany and the EU can help African states to successfully pursue their interests vis-à-vis partners from the BRICS countries to the benefit of their own populations.

by Gerhard Wahlers

Effects on Development Policy

China, India and Brazil have been clearly stepping up their involvement in Africa over recent years. Their approach is very different from the policy and aims behind the development assistance provided by “traditional” donors. China, India and Brazil do not view their closer ties with African governments in terms of the donor-recipient relationship. Trade and direct investment are taking centre-stage. The largely unconditional aid provided by these three emerging nations runs counter to the Western approach towards development assistance.

by Sebastian Barnet Fuchs

Bridging the Atlantic?

Brazil’s presence in Africa is growing. It was President Lula who early on in his first term identified Africa as a priority in Brazil’s effort to diversify its partnerships. In some instances, the country also acted as a democracy promoter in Africa. Intertwined with Brazil’s growing economic presence in the African continent is its newfound role as an aid donor. Finally, Brazil is acquiring the military capacity, including several nuclear submarines, to increasingly control the South Atlantic that divides Brazil from Africa.

by Oliver Stuenkel

Past Legacies and the Challenge of Transition in Africa

Virtually all African liberation movements have experienced considerable difficulties in actually making the transition from struggle to government. The persistence of this phenomenon in Africa was the wellspring for an international Dialogue of leading struggle veterans, policy makers and experts in early October 2012. Experience from South Africa and indeed across Africa suggests that as the immediate euphoria of liberation subsides, problems characteristically arise that have to be traced back to the liberation movement itself.

by Christopher Clapham

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Eastern Africa

The year 2012 brought more refugee crises than almost all years in the recent past. During the first nine months of the year, more than 700,000 refugees crossed international borders. The crises of the previous year – including the drought in the Horn of Africa and fighting in Libya – and the millions of refugees who have been in exile for years mean a critical point has been reached.

by Angelika Mendes

Possibility or Pipe Dream?

After 60 years of division, the differences in the lives of people in the North and South of the Korean Peninsula are probably greater than ever, the interests of the people have shifted and the idea of one nation has perhaps become much less important. Considering the substantial differences between North and South Korea in terms of per capita income, it is reasonable to assume that South Korea would have to bear the lion’s share of the costs of reunification and that these costs would be significantly higher than was the case in Germany.

by Norbert Eschborn, Young-yoon Kim

Rückblick und Ausblick

In spite of the massive manipulation and targeted use of administrative resources well in advance of the election day, the parliamentary elections produced a strong opposition. The former governing party, the Party of Regions (PR) led by President Viktor Yanukovych, did emerge as the strongest force, but was weakened. The objective of a two-thirds majority was clearly missed. The surprise winner was without doubt the right-wing national party Svoboda, which was able to enter the Verkhovna Rada for the first time, with 10.44 per cent.

by Gabriele Baumann, Christine Rosenberger