BRICS Summer School Launches: Advocating for Innovative Narratives and Global Perspectives

JOHANNESBURG – The inaugural day of the BRICS Summer School commenced with a palpable sense of urgency in Johannesburg, South Africa. Scholars and aspiring leaders from across the Global South congregated to explore alternative narratives in international relations, enhance intra-BRICS cooperation, and discuss the pivotal role of youth in shaping the future of this rapidly evolving bloc. The timing of this event is highly symbolic, coinciding with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, another platform for non-Western collaboration. This convergence underscores the increasing momentum of multipolar institutions that strive to address the imbalances of the current global order.

Correcting the Failures of Today’s Leaders

South African academic Prof. Victoria Graham opened the discussions by emphasizing that BRICS must not only highlight the failures of today’s leaders but also create viable alternatives. “We need alternative viewpoints, alternative narratives in global politics,” she stated, stressing the importance of involving young people in carrying BRICS into the future.

Prof. Siphamandla Zondi posed a crucial question: why do BRICS countries continue to engage in more trade with Western nations than with each other? This inquiry pointed to the structural challenges inhibiting BRICS from achieving its full economic potential.

According to Margaret Sheron Arnolds, speaker of the Johannesburg city council, the Summer School serves as more than just an academic gathering; it is a platform for young individuals to “challenge orthodoxy, disrupt the status quo, and work towards a fairer international order.”

A Political Act of Imagination

The most politically charged intervention came from activist Steve Letsike, who articulated a powerful vision: “This Summer School is not only an academic gathering, nor is it only a cultural exchange. It is a political act of imagination, where the voices of the Global South rise to say we are here, we matter, and we will shape the new world that is emerging.”

Letsike emphasized that BRICS transcends being merely an economic or political bloc; it represents a strategic initiative for global transformation grounded in multipolarity, justice, inclusion, and the self-determination of peoples.

Since its inception, BRICS has aimed to rebalance the global order, moving away from unipolar dominance toward a more equitable governance system. “The numbers themselves speak powerfully,” Letsike reminded participants. The original BRICS five accounted for 42% of the world’s population and 31.5% of global GDP. Following the latest expansion, BRICS now represents 46% of the global population and 37% of global GDP, indicating its growing significance in world affairs.

Her conclusion was clear: BRICS must be perceived as a declaration that the Global South will no longer be passive spectators but active creators of the future.

Why Iran Watches Closely

One of the central activities of this year’s Summer School is a BRICS Model Simulation focused on “Payment Systems and Financial Cooperation: The Use of Local Currencies among BRICS Member States.” This topic is particularly relevant for Iran, which recently joined BRICS and faces the harsh reality of unilateral Western sanctions. For Tehran, establishing resilient financial infrastructure that can navigate the dollar-dominated system is not merely an option — it is a necessity.

The dialogues in Johannesburg resonated with this urgency. A common BRICS payment system, designed to lessen dependence on Western financial institutions, could provide countries like Iran — and potentially others vulnerable to sanctions — a pathway toward economic sovereignty.

A Slovak Voice Among Global South Debates

Participants of the BRICS Summer School convened for a group photo in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: Visual Studio)

As the sole participant from Slovakia, I feel a strong responsibility to integrate these discussions into our national dialogue. In Slovakia, BRICS is often met with skepticism — perceived as distant, irrelevant, or incompatible with our European commitments. However, what I observe here is not a threat, but an opportunity.

For a small nation historically influenced by external powers, BRICS presents a platform to broaden our horizons, diversify partnerships, and cultivate resilience in an already multipolar world. It is not about turning away from Europe but about ensuring that we are not restricted to a single geopolitical narrative.

The Voice of the Global South

The convergence of the BRICS Summer School and the SCO Summit in Tianjin signifies a profound transformation: the Global South is no longer content to occupy a secondary role. It is actively constructing its own institutions, setting its own agendas, and asserting its collective strength.

For nations under sanctions, such as Iran, this represents an opportunity to forge financial lifelines outside of Western control. For the broader Global South, it highlights a determination to transition from the margins to the center of decision-making.

If the first day of the Summer School underscored one essential truth, it is this: the Global South will not merely inherit the future — it will actively shape it.

Lucia Hubinská is a university lecturer, activist, commentator, and publicist from Slovakia who participated in the BRICS Summer School in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: Visual Studio)