Seeking Relevance in the Age of Globalisation : Russia in Africa Through South Africa

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.