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Abstract
The end of the water-tight ideological system of bipolarity brought about unipolar moment, non-polarity, multi-polarity and globalisation of special types where American dominance by design is here to stay for a long period of time. Russia's 1993 Constitution introduced the presidential system of government; arrogating more power to President Vladimir Putin and allowing him to embark on a 'Russia must rise again' in the comity of nations against the "end of history". This led to a new politico-diplomatic and economic rapprochement with developing states with emphasis on Africa through South Africa. Being perceived as a credible power in Africa, South Africa took advantage of its bilateral and multilateral (BRICS) relations with Moscow to serve as a gateway for Russia into Africa. This paper employs the prisoners of reason paradigm as a theoretical departure; it also argues that going by South Africa's way, Russia may not garner her economic and political ambition on the continent.
Keywords: Russia, South Africa, Africa, Politico-economic Relations, BRICS.
1.Introduction
It is the intention of this paper to point out that Russia's foreign policy at the global level is to achieve Frederick Hartman's (1973: 450) prediction that, "the state would like to maintain status quo ante of its 1914 frontiers in Europe and 1904 frontiers in Asia". While some see Russia as a continuing Great Power, others see it as a reviving Great Power from the wreckage of the former Soviet Union (Smith, 2012: 111). In trying to actualise these in the 21st century, there is a need to introduce cultural diplomacy in the form of soft and hard powers or what Joseph Nye (2011) describes as smart power. On the issue of national interest, political ideology may play a dormant role when Russia's interest is at stake in the form of economic development, socio-cultural promotion and military objectives and other elements of power in international politics. This explains Moscow's relations with Germany, BRICS members and African states. From Vladimir Ulanov (Lenin) to Vladimir Putin, Russia's foreign policy is to regain the lost glory of the Russian Empire. To achieve this, there is a need to back military power with economic power by having access to new markets and natural resources that are economically lucrative as against the Siberian resources...