BRICS | A Global Power Bloc?

Summary

This video discusses the growing significance of the BRICS group as a potential challenger to Western dominance in international relations. Initially formed by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and later expanding to nine members, BRICS is seen by some as an emerging global power bloc. However, the group faces challenges due to political, economic, and ideological differences among its members. While BRICS holds potential to influence global affairs, its cohesion and relevance remain limited, raising doubts about its ability to rival the West in shaping international policies.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The BRICS group, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China, was formed as an emerging counterweight to Western global dominance.
• 🛠️ In 2010, South Africa joined the group, turning BRIC into BRICS, solidifying its presence as a global economic and political entity.
• 🏦 The BRICS established the New Development Bank in 2014, as an alternative to Western-dominated financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF.
• 🌐 BRICS members cover 31% of the world’s landmass and include 45% of the world’s population, with a combined GDP of 30% of the world’s total.
• 📈 BRICS has expanded, with Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and others joining or showing interest, which could increase its influence in global affairs.
• 🤔 Despite its growing size, BRICS lacks internal cohesion due to political, economic, and cultural differences, notably between members like China and India.
• 💥 Many BRICS members hold differing positions on major global issues, such as Russia's war in Ukraine or relations with Israel, limiting their ability to present a unified front.
• 🤝 BRICS calls for reforms to multilateral organizations like the UN, World Bank, and IMF, resonating with many developing nations that feel underrepresented.
• ⚖️ While seen as an alternative bloc to the West, BRICS faces challenges due to differing governance systems, lack of institutional structure, and internal conflicts.
• 🔮 BRICS may grow in global importance, but it currently serves more as a platform for opposing Western dominance rather than as a cohesive, unified bloc.

Q & A

What is the BRICS group, and how did it originate?

BRICS is a group of major emerging countries initially consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. It originated in 2001 when British economist Jim O'Neill identified these countries as having the potential to reshape the global economic order. South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS.

What are the key characteristics of the BRICS nations?

The BRICS nations are characterized by large geographic size, significant populations, and rapidly growing economies. They also aim to strengthen their role in global affairs and reduce their dependence on Western-dominated financial institutions.

How has BRICS expanded in recent years?

In 2023, BRICS expanded by inviting six new members: Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Argentina later withdrew, but the other countries joined in 2024, bringing the total membership to nine.

What initiatives have BRICS launched to challenge Western-dominated institutions?

BRICS has launched several initiatives, including the establishment of the BRICS Development Bank (now the New Development Bank) in 2014. This bank provides an alternative to Western-dominated financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.

What challenges does BRICS face in becoming a cohesive global power bloc?

BRICS lacks natural cohesion due to significant political, economic, and cultural differences between its members. For example, China and India have geopolitical rivalries, and tensions exist between Iran and Saudi Arabia. These issues hinder their ability to act as a unified force.

Why do some countries want to join BRICS?

Countries are attracted to BRICS because it represents a voice for the global South, advocating for reforms in global institutions and offering an alternative to Western dominance in international relations.

How does BRICS compare to Western alliances like NATO or the EU?

Unlike NATO or the EU, BRICS lacks strong institutional structures and permanent bodies. While it holds summits, it doesn't have the same level of day-to-day cooperation or unified approach to global issues, limiting its influence.

What role does China play within BRICS, and how does it affect the group’s dynamic?

China is the most influential member of BRICS and is often seen as a key challenger to U.S. supremacy. However, China's geopolitical tensions with other BRICS members, like India, complicate the group's unity and cohesion.

What are the key criticisms of the BRICS group?

Critics argue that BRICS lacks cohesion due to internal political and ideological differences. Additionally, many of its members are seen as authoritarian, which undermines their criticism of Western policies. This weakens the group's ability to act as a unified force.

Is BRICS truly a significant challenger to Western dominance in international relations?

While BRICS has the potential to become a significant player in global politics, it currently faces challenges due to its internal differences and lack of cohesive vision. Its influence is growing, but it remains just one of many competing voices in international affairs.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 The BRICS Group: Emerging as a Global Power Bloc?

The BRICS group, consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is seen as a rising alternative to Western dominance in global affairs. Initially formed by four countries and later expanded, the group seeks to challenge Western-led institutions and promote a multipolar world. Despite its growing influence, the question remains whether it will become a significant counterforce in international relations. This section introduces the BRICS group, its origins, and the idea of power blocs in global politics.

05:02

📈 BRICS: Geopolitical and Economic Strength

The BRICS group's combined geographic, demographic, and economic power is notable. Together, they represent 31% of the world’s landmass, 45% of its population, and 30% of global GDP. As a powerful voice, they are increasingly influencing both developing and Western countries, particularly as China positions itself as a challenger to U.S. dominance. The group’s calls for reforming global institutions resonate with many developing countries, and their resistance to Western environmental policies is a point of appeal.

10:07

⚔️ The Challenges of Cohesion in the BRICS

Despite their collective strength, the BRICS group faces challenges due to internal differences. Unlike the West, which unites around liberal democracy, the BRICS lack a shared ideology or political cohesion. Some members, like India and China, are even geopolitical rivals. Tensions exist between current and prospective members, such as Iran and Azerbaijan, and disagreements over global security issues hinder unified action. These challenges limit the group’s ability to act cohesively, especially compared to Western alliances like NATO or the European Union.

🔗 The BRICS and Global Multilateralism

In an increasingly complex global environment, the BRICS group must navigate a landscape filled with competing regional and international organizations. Unlike the Western alliances, which are closely knit, BRICS members often belong to multiple other groups like the African Union or the G20, which offers a more constructive platform for cooperation with the West. Furthermore, the group's authoritarian tendencies and the perceived mistreatment of their own citizens dilute their appeal as a voice for the global South, making it just one of many competing actors in global politics.

Keywords

💡BRICS

BRICS是一个由巴西、俄罗斯、印度、中国和南非组成的非正式国家集团，最初由高盛经济学家吉姆·奥尼尔在2001年提出，指的是这些国家快速的经济增长潜力。BRICS旨在增强成员国在国际事务中的影响力，推动全球多边机构改革，以更好地反映新兴经济体的利益。BRICS成员国在经济、政治和外交上具有显著的影响力，并且正在寻求建立更广泛的国际合作，例如通过新开发银行（New Development Bank）和其他倡议来挑战西方主导的国际机构。

💡New Development Bank

新开发银行（New Development Bank）是BRICS成员国于2014年成立的多边开发银行，旨在为基础设施和可持续发展项目提供资金，补充现有的国际金融机构。该银行总部位于中国上海，每个BRICS成员国在银行中持有平等的股份，并贡献相等的资产份额。新开发银行的成立是BRICS寻求在全球金融体系中增强话语权和影响力的一个例证。

💡Contingent Reserve Agreement

应急储备安排（Contingent Reserve Agreement, CRA）是BRICS国家之间的一种金融安排，旨在为成员国提供流动性支持，以应对潜在的货币危机。CRA的初始资金由中国提供41%，与新开发银行不同，CRA不受平等出资规定的约束。这一安排体现了BRICS成员国之间在金融稳定方面的合作意愿。

💡multipolar international system

多极国际体系是指由多个强大国家或集团组成的国际秩序，这些国家或集团在国际事务中具有相对平等的影响力。BRICS国家主张建立一个不再由西方主导的多极国际体系，以促进全球权力的更均衡分配，并增强发展中国家在全球治理中的作用。

💡global governance

全球治理是指通过国际机构、规则和合作机制来管理全球事务的过程。BRICS国家寻求在全球治理中发挥更大的作用，包括改革联合国、世界银行和国际货币基金组织等机构，以更好地反映新兴经济体和发展中国家的利益和观点。

💡geopolitical bloc

地缘政治集团是指基于共同的战略利益或目标而结成的国家集团。BRICS被视为可能成为西方主导的国际秩序的挑战者，尽管成员国之间存在政治、经济和文化差异，但它们在某些领域找到了共同立场，如对全球机构改革的呼吁。

💡emerging economies

新兴经济体是指经济增长迅速、市场潜力大、对全球经济有显著影响的发展中国家。BRICS成员国是新兴经济体的代表，它们在全球经济中的地位日益重要，并寻求在国际事务中发挥更大的作用。

💡global institutions

全球机构通常指的是那些在全球治理中发挥关键作用的国际组织，如联合国、世界银行和国际货币基金组织。BRICS国家呼吁改革现有的全球机构，以更好地反映发展中国家的利益，并增强这些国家在全球决策中的影响力。

💡institutional structures

制度结构是指组织内部的管理和运作机制。BRICS虽然是一个重要的国际集团，但它缺乏像欧盟或北约那样的正式联盟所具有的强有力制度结构。BRICS的运作更多依赖于年度峰会和成员国之间的共识决策。

💡collective influence

集体影响力是指一组国家通过合作来增强其在国际事务中的影响力。BRICS国家通过共同的立场和行动，试图增强它们在经济、政治和外交上的集体影响力，以推动更有利于发展中国家的全球政策和规范。

Highlights

BRICS is increasingly seen as an alternative global power bloc challenging Western dominance.

BRICS initially consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and has now expanded to nine members.

BRICS members share large geographic size, significant populations, and rapidly growing economies.

The group’s first summit was held in Russia in 2009, followed by South Africa joining in 2010, officially forming BRICS.

BRICS calls for a multipolar international system, opposing Western-dominated global institutions like the UN, IMF, and World Bank.

In 2014, BRICS launched the New Development Bank to offer an alternative to Western financial institutions.

The 2023 BRICS summit in South Africa marked a significant expansion with the addition of six new members.

The combined population of BRICS countries is 3.6 billion, representing 45% of the world’s population, and their combined GDP is around $30 trillion.

BRICS is perceived as a key voice for the global South, with growing influence in global economic and political matters.

Despite its potential, BRICS faces internal challenges, including political and economic differences between member states like China and India.

The group lacks natural cohesion, with no shared values or unifying ideology compared to Western blocs.

BRICS members like India and China have regional rivalries, complicating their cooperation within the group.

The BRICS group lacks formal institutional structures, unlike organizations like the EU or NATO.

BRICS may serve as a platform for opposition to the West, but it is unlikely to become a fully unified global power bloc.

As BRICS expands, it risks greater internal tensions, which could limit its effectiveness in global affairs.

Transcripts

Are the BRICS really emerging  as the primary challenger to  

Western dominance in international relations?

In recent years, the group is increasingly  seen as an alternative global power bloc,  

taking on the United States and its allies.

Originally made up of Russia,  India, China, and Brazil,  

it’s now expanded to nine members, with  many more countries lining up to join.

More recently, even Turkey has  suggested that it might want to join.

But what exactly is it? And is it really  becoming a significant force in world affairs?

Hello and welcome. If you're new to the  channel, my name is James Ker-Lindsay,  

and here I take an informed look at international  relations, conflict, security, and statehood.

Power blocs are a fundamental feature  of modern international relations.

Made up of countries that want to  enhance their collective influence or  

pursue common strategic interests,  they can emerge in various ways.

Sometimes, they arise as a joint  response to perceived threats.

Alternatively, they can be driven by joint  economic interests or by shared ideological goals.

They also come in many different forms.

While some are formal alliances with  strong institutional structures,  

others are little more than loose  coalitions of like-minded states.

One of the most significant  blocs to have emerged since  

the turn of the millennium is the BRICS group.

But while it's often presented as a counterweight  

to Western power in international  affairs, is this truly the case?

Our story starts with the  end of the Cold War in 1991.

Following the collapse of communism and  the disintegration of the Soviet Union,  

the widespread view was that the victorious  West would dominate the period ahead.

However, by the turn of the millennium,  an alternative view was taking shape.

Attention began turning to a group of major  emerging countries outside the Western order.

In 2001, a British economist, Jim O'Neill,  

identified four fast-growing large states that  he argued had the potential to fundamentally  

reshape the global economic order:  Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

Termed the BRIC states, they shared several  key features: a large geographic size,  

significant populations, and  rapidly growing economies.

By the middle of the decade, what had started as a  catchy acronym began emerging as an actual entity.

Driven by their wish to strengthen their role in  

global affairs and reduce their dependence  on Western-dominated financial institutions,  

the four countries held their  first summit in Russia in 2009.

Having established themselves as a group, the  next major step came the following year, in 2010.

Attempting to strengthen their legitimacy and  influence on the global stage by including  

a country from each continent, the group now  added South Africa, thus becoming the BRICS.

From there, the group steadily  increased its activities.

As well as leading calls for a  multipolar international system no  

longer dominated by the West, they  called for global institutions to  

be reformed to give a stronger  voice to the developing world.

In addition, the group became  increasingly organized.

As well as holding annual summits,  they launched several high-profile  

initiatives to offer an alternative to what  they saw as Western-dominated institutions.

Most notably, in 2014, they  established the BRICS Development Bank,  

now known as the New Development  Bank, based in Shanghai, China.

By the start of the 2020s,  

the group was increasingly seen as a  powerful voice for the global South.

As a result, other countries  increasingly wanted to join.

This came to a head at its 15th summit,  held in South Africa in August 2023,  

when the group announced that six new  members had been invited to join the bloc:  

Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi  Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

While Argentina later withdrew its application  after Javier became president in December 2023,  

and Saudi Arabia has yet to decide on membership,  

the other four countries joined in January 2024,  taking the group’s total membership to nine.

Since then, the list of potential  new members has continued to grow.

In August 2024, Azerbaijan announced its intention  

to join the group following a visit  by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And it's against this backdrop that reports have  

now emerged that even Turkey is looking  to join the group, although, of course,  

it's unclear whether membership of the group  would be incompatible with its NATO membership.

All this has strengthened claims  that the BRICS group is emerging  

as the most significant counterweight  to Western domination in world affairs.

But is this really the case?

To its supporters, the BRICS group is a  significant force in international politics.

First, there's the group's combined  geographic, demographic, and economic strength.

Together, the nine members cover 46 million  square km, or 18 million square miles.

This is around 31% of the world's total  landmass, and their combined population  

of around 3.6 billion is around  45% of the world's inhabitants.

Moreover, their combined GDP of around $30  trillion US is 30% of the world's total.

Altogether, they represent a  vast bloc by almost any measure.

All this gives them enormous potential to shape  the international economic and political system.

Secondly, and crucially, the BRICS  group is increasingly seen by others  

as a powerful voice in international affairs.

Both as a group and individually, they  exert considerable economic, political,  

and diplomatic influence, not only over  developing countries but also over the West.

Just on its own, China is seen as the key  challenger to US supremacy in world affairs.

Pulling together various regional  and emerging international powers,  

the BRICS are now seen as the natural  leaders of the non-Western world.

This is also aided by the fact  that the group's core messages  

resonate strongly with many other countries.

They call to reform multilateral institutions,  such as the United Nations and its financial  

bodies, the World Bank and the International  Monetary Fund, strike a chord with many  

developing states that have long felt they've  been shut out of global decision-making.

Likewise, on climate change,  they've often spoken out against  

what they see as Western policies  imposed on the developing world.

Many countries have long resented demands that  they reduce consumption and development for  

their populations while Western states enjoy the  benefits of past pollution that they've inflicted.

Finally, there's the group's  growing attraction as a club.

More and more countries want to be part of it.

The group’s summits now  attract many other attendees.

Overall, there's a general sense  amongst its supporters that the  

group represents the best way to build  the strength of developing nations and  

challenge Western overreach into  the affairs of other countries.

Meanwhile, as more countries  seek to align with the BRICS,  

the group's ability to shape global norms,  policies, and alliances seems likely to grow.

But while there are good arguments  to suggest that the BRICS group  

could well become a significant  alternative bloc in global politics,  

there are also strong reasons to suggest  that it won't become an alternative force.

First, the group lacks a natural cohesion.

Unlike the West, which is grouped around shared  values and a belief in liberal democracy,  

the BRICS have no unified or unifying outlook.

The members have significant political,  economic, and cultural differences.

Indeed, several members are even adversaries.

As well as having a long-standing border  dispute that occasionally flares up in  

violence, China and India have  become geopolitical opponents.

Indeed, while India may cooperate with China  in the BRICS group, it's also part of the Quad,  

a new security and defense bloc, including  Japan, Australia, and the United States,  

that is specifically designed to limit China's  influence in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Looking ahead, there are also tensions  between current and future members.

For example, Iran and Azerbaijan  have a strained relationship.

Likewise, Iran and Saudi Arabia,  

notwithstanding a Chinese-brokered peace  deal, also have a long history of tension.

Such problems will inevitably  get worse as the group expands.

More generally, while the group may  have found common ground in some areas,  

they are at odds in others.

For example, unlike the West, there's  no overarching sense of cohesion when  

tackling critical global security challenges.

While China and Iran may be supporting  Russia over the war in Ukraine,  

many others are taking a far less vocal position.

And while Iran remains bitterly opposed to Israel,  and South Africa has brought a genocide case  

against it at the International Court of Justice,  others have far better relations with the country.

All this limits the ability of the group to speak  

with one voice on the most  pressing issues of the day.

Contrast this with the high degree  of Western cohesion on these issues.

But it doesn't end there.

The group also has other shortcomings.

For a start, despite having established  several institutions, it still lacks the  

structures and coherence one would expect to  see from a major international organization.

While it may hold international summits, it  doesn't have the permanent bodies that match the  

European Union or even NATO, which maintain large  secretariats overseeing day-to-day cooperation.

Meanwhile, the group faces the challenge  of building and maintaining relevance  

in an increasingly complex and  diverse international environment.

While the West comes together around a few key  organizations that cement their mutual ties,  

the members of the BRICS group can join many  other regional and international bodies,  

such as the African Union, ASEAN,  and the Non-Aligned Movement.

At the same time, other bodies exist that provide  

an arguably better approach  to dealing with the West.

Rather than taking a confrontational  approach, as many believe the BRICS does,  

other forums offer a way for the world's  largest countries to engage more constructively.

A good example is the G20, which  includes BRICS members India, China,  

and Brazil alongside the United States,  Japan, and leading European states.

This becomes even more important if you  consider that while certain BRICS members  

are ostracized by the West and under  sanctions, such as Iran and Russia,  

for others, economic cooperation with the West  remains a cornerstone of their prosperity.

Finally, while many countries do indeed want to  join the group, others are much more cautious,  

not least of all because the group is also widely  seen as an emerging group of authoritarian states.

While it may talk about the  mistreatment of many countries

by the West, many would point out that many of the  

group's members have little compunction  about mistreating their own citizens.

All this seemingly dilutes the impact that  the BRICS group can have on global politics.

Rather than becoming the preeminent  voice for the global South,  

the group is, in many ways, just  one amongst many competing voices.

So, is the BRICS group a  challenger to Western domination?

The answer is yes and no.

In one way, the group is, by its very  nature, defined as opposition to the West,  

and this certainly gives it a powerful  position for many other countries.

However, one also senses that this  is where it really starts and ends.

The countries are united by the  fact that they aren't the West  

rather than by a unified vision of  what they want to be as a group.

While this may give them a  degree of cohesion at one level,  

it seems superficial, especially as  several members maintain workable,  

if not good, economic, political,  and diplomatic ties to the West.

Of course, none of this is to say that the group  

can't or won't become an increasingly  prominent actor in global affairs.

In an increasingly divided world, the BRICS  may indeed become a substantial player.

But for now, it seems unlikely to develop a  genuinely significant role in international  

relations beyond being a forum for  channeling opposition to the West.

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