BRICS’ Quiet Revolution: Challenging the West by Degrees

The upcoming BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi has sparked a familiar debate: can this bloc of emerging economies truly challenge the Western-dominated world order? The question has become an annual ritual, with some experts dismissing BRICS as toothless and ineffective. However, such a narrow perspective overlooks the significant impact the group has had on global politics.

BRICS was formed in response to frustration with the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round, which failed to address the concerns of emerging economies. These countries recognized that their voices would be drowned out in traditional international institutions dominated by the West. By forming BRICS, they created a platform outside Western-led institutions where they could express themselves and collaborate on development agendas.

The bloc’s achievements are more nuanced than its detractors acknowledge. While it may not have created an alternative to Western-dominated institutions, BRICS has made Western dominance harder to exercise. Its existence provides Global South countries with a voice and an alternative to cooperation with the West. Brazilian researchers Octavio Oliveira and Enzo Godinho pointed out that “its mere existence is a much more important platform for Global South countries to express their voices and bypass the West in cooperation.”

BRICS has also facilitated economic exchange within its member countries and beyond. The group’s focus on national development and poverty alleviation has led to a surge of trade and investment that serves the interests of its members. This, in turn, has contributed to the growing multipolarity of the world economy.

However, BRICS still faces significant challenges in leveraging its collective power. Despite accounting for nearly half the world’s population and 40 percent of global output in purchasing power terms, the bloc has struggled to coordinate its actions on foreign policy and security issues. This is not surprising, given the vastly different interests and priorities of its member countries.

The BRICS summit in New Delhi will be a crucial test of the group’s cohesion and ability to address common challenges. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the US-led war on Iran have exposed divisions among BRICS members, with some, like Russia, taking a more assertive stance against Western powers. Others, like India, have sought to maintain a more neutral position.

The summit will also serve as an opportunity for BRICS to redefine its role in a rapidly changing global landscape. The notion of the West is indeed breaking down, with the transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe fracturing. It’s unclear what BRICS would be challenging, or whom – America or Europe.

To truly challenge Western dominance, BRICS must continue to build its economic weight and leverage. This will require more than just rhetorical commitments; it demands concrete action on issues like trade, investment, and development assistance. Guy Burton, a geopolitical and policy analyst, noted that “the very idea of the so-called West has changed dramatically since the early 2000s.”

The BRICS’ impact on global politics should not be measured solely by its ability to replace Western-dominated institutions. Rather, it’s about whether this bloc can continue to make Western dominance harder to exercise – and whether it can do so through a more cohesive and effective approach. The stakes are high, but the outcome of the New Delhi summit will ultimately depend on BRICS’ ability to deliver results that benefit its member countries and the broader Global South.