Each of these countries (RSA, Pak, Ukraine, Czech, Brazil, etc) had the potential to rise. The keys were vision and collectiveness -- flood the well so that all boats rise. However, the big powers did a good job breaking the natural synergy by inviting each into various camps (e.g., RSA in BRICS). No one from any of those countries could deliver a great vision, devise a plan to get there, or show relentlessness in implementation.
Dreams set your ceiling to cloud 9, but you'll drop to a higher floor than someone who doesn't dream.