Some kind of redistribution is entirely necessary, although the haphazard way Mugabe carried it out poses a warning on how it can be done wrong.
Of the BRICS, South Africa has far more potential than Russia IMO which is just a disaster.
I disagree, while Russia is in many way just as dysfunctional as South Africa, it's both a more significant player, a more developed economy and have a greater potential than South Africa. Yes they suffer under a political system which is a disaster and delusions of grandeur. But Russia have vast amount of resources, vast agricultural land and a well educated population. The reason Russia shouldn't be part of BRICS is mostly because it is a developed country, a poor one but a developed one, what they really lack is a better political system, less corruption and a population wanting to buy their own produce, and because of the sanctions we may see that happens, as Russia have begun to produce their own basic products to their consumers, which mean we may see the development of more small business, which may create a middle class not connected to the regime or oligarchs.
It seems to me that Russia largely coasts off its old status as a superpower, but is far more vulnerable. The economy is still relatively undiversified from fossils and arms and the population is in a capricious decline.
