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Class Compromise as Middle Power Activism? Comparing Brazil and South Africa1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 October 2012

Janis van der Westhuizen
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Abstract

One of the most glaring differences between traditional and emerging middle powers relates to their projection of societal values abroad. Since most emerging powers are essentially fragmented multiclass states, class compromise often emerges to intermediate contradictory demands emanating from fragile political coalitions. Against the backdrop of vast income inequalities, and facing some domestic constituencies favouring liberalization on the one hand against pro-redistributive groups on the other, adopting a middle power role, in the cases of South Africa and Brazil, emerges in order to ameliorate these conflicting demands. Two dimensions are examined very briefly, namely recent mediation efforts in Iran and Libya and attempts to effect redistribution by reforming processes of global governance.

Type
Articles
Information
Government and Opposition , Volume 48 , Issue 1 , January 2013 , pp. 80 - 100
Copyright
Copyright © Government and Opposition Ltd 2012

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Footnotes

*

Janis van der Westhuizen is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University. Contact email: jvdw2@sun.ac.za.

1

I am indebted to two anonymous reviewers of an earlier draft for their very useful suggestions.

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