South Africa can damn Putin and stay non-aligned in the West

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a rude reminder of how deeply interconnected the global economy is. It has also underlined the fragility of global stability and the multilateral institutions that underpin it. It shows that the interplays of power reign supreme and the strongest can run roughshod over the weak in ways that undermine international law. The global climate of tension among major powers creates grave uncertainties about the future state of the global system and whether the rules-based international institutions can withstand the pressure. This fraught environment also raises questions about where countries like South Africa , and broadly…