BRICS SUMMIT: A TEST FOR India Multipolarity Rhetoric

(Relevant for General Studies Paper Prelims/Mains)

BRICS SUMMIT: A TEST FOR India Multipolarity Rhetoric

The 15th BRICS summit, which convened the heads of state from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, occurred in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August 2023. This summit served as a forum for collaboration and discussion among these emerging economies, all of which encounter shared prospects and challenges in the 21st century. The summit’s central theme revolved around “BRICS and Africa: Fostering Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism.”

• Reaffirming Commitment to Multilateralism and Reform: In a joint declaration, BRICS leaders reiterated their dedication to upholding multilateralism, international law, and sustainable development. They also voiced their backing for the reform of global institutions, including the United Nations, to enhance their representation and responsiveness to the needs of developing nations.
• Broadening Membership and Influence: BRICS leaders endorsed an expansion of their group by extending invitations to 15 countries from Africa and the Global South to participate in a Friends of BRICS meeting.
• First Phase of Expansion: The countries, among them Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, have received invitations to join BRICS, with the new membership set to take effect from January 1, 2024. More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS.
• Reasons for BRICS Expansion: Factors driving this expansion include China’s strategic maneuvering for global influence, a desire for broader collaboration among like-minded nations, limited alternatives in other groups, and the fostering of solidarity in the Global South.
• Exploring a Common Currency: BRICS leaders have initiated discussions about the potential creation of a shared currency to facilitate trade and investment within the BRICS nations. Finance ministers and central bank governors have been tasked with studying the feasibility and advantages of such a currency, which could reduce reliance on the US dollar and other major currencies.
• Addressing Regional and Global Concerns: BRICS leaders engaged in discussions regarding various regional and global issues, including the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, terrorism, cybersecurity, energy security, trade, and investment. They emphasized the importance of ensuring equitable access to vaccines and medical supplies for all nations and pledged to strengthen cooperation in health research and innovation

Challenges India Faces in its Engagement with the BRICS

• Balancing Competing Interests: India faces the challenge of maintaining a delicate equilibrium in its relationships with China and Russia, both of which are increasingly perceived as strategic competitors by Western nations. China’s ascent presents significant security and interest-related hurdles for India, notably concerning border disputes, maritime security, trade imbalances, technological rivalry, and human rights. Additionally, Russia’s participation in the Ukraine conflict and alignment with China raise doubts in India about the reliability and credibility of its long-standing partner.
• Upholding Democratic Principles: India must navigate the expectations of Western norms while safeguarding its autonomy and sovereignty. It strives to avoid alienating other countries in the Global South who may find merit in China’s or Russia’s endeavors to expand the influence and membership of non-Western forums like BRICS or SCO. India aims for a foreign policy that is both pragmatic and principled, serving its national interests and values.
• Managing Bilateral Differences: India grapples with unresolved border disputes and strategic rivalries involving China and Pakistan, influencing its interactions within BRICS. Divergent perspectives with Russia on topics like Afghanistan, Iran, and the Indo-Pacific must be managed alongside the pursuit of multilateral cooperation within BRICS. India’s persistent trade deficit with China raises concerns about equitable economic engagement, potentially impacting its overall economic stability within BRICS.
• Balancing China’s Dominance: China, as the largest and most influential BRICS member, holds economic, military, and diplomatic sway that surpasses that of the other nations. India must harmonize its interests and values with the imperative to collaborate with China on common BRICS agenda items.
• Navigating Geopolitical Rivalries: India’s intricate geopolitical associations with certain BRICS members, notably China and Russia, introduce challenges in maintaining a cohesive stance on global issues. Discord over regional conflicts and security concerns could hinder effective cooperative endeavours.
• Addressing Developmental Disparities: BRICS encompasses both advanced economies such as China and Russia and emerging economies like India and South Africa. Reducing the developmental disparities among member nations to ensure equitable gains from cooperation remains a significant task.
• Coordinating on Multilateral Platforms: While BRICS endeavors to reform global governance institutions, including the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund, member countries often have divergent priorities and approaches to these reforms.
• Varied Security Concerns: BRICS member countries possess diverse security concerns, spanning from terrorism and regional conflicts to cyber threats. Harmonizing these concerns and coordinating joint security initiatives necessitates careful diplomacy.
• Shifting Global Alliances: As geopolitical dynamics evolve, certain BRICS members may seek closer ties with external countries or organizations, potentially impacting BRICS’ cohesion and collective bargaining influence on the global level.

Possible Areas of Cooperation Within BRICS

• Enhancing Internal Balance: BRICS must move away from China’s predominant role and strive for a more equitable internal equilibrium, recognizing the pressing need for diversification.
• To ensure BRICS‘ continued relevance in the coming decades, each member must pragmatically assess both opportunities and inherent limitations.
• Furthermore, the coalition should explore the prospects of ‘BRICS plus’ collaboration across various levels and broader scopes. This expansion would augment the representation and influence of BRICS nations, enabling them to make more substantial contributions to global peace and development.
• Championing Universal Security: BRICS nations ought to act as advocates for universal security. Prioritizing one’s security interests to the detriment of others will only fuel new tensions and risks.
• It is imperative to uphold and assure the security of all nations, replace confrontations with dialogues and partnerships, and foster the creation of a balanced, effective, and sustainable regional security framework.
• Equally essential is the reinforcement of mutual political trust and security cooperation, maintaining open channels for communication and coordination on significant international and regional matters, while accommodating each other’s core interests and major concerns.
• Securing Economic Interests: BRICS nations should actively contribute to shared development. Confronting the mounting wave of de-globalization and the proliferation of unilateral sanctions, BRICS countries should intensify mutually beneficial cooperation across supply chains, energy resources, food security, and financial resilience.
• In addition, establishing an institutional research body akin to the OECD, geared towards delivering solutions tailored to the needs of the developing world, could prove beneficial for BRICS.

Sample Question for UPSC Sociology Optional Paper:

Q 1: “How does India’s engagement in the BRICS Summit reflect its approach to multipolarity?”
Answer:
India’s participation in the BRICS Summit is a strategic maneuver to engage in a multipolar world, balancing relations with countries like China and Russia while reaffirming its commitment to multilateralism and sustainable development.

Q 2: “What are the sociological implications of expanding BRICS to include more countries from the Global South?”
Answer:
The expansion of BRICS to include more countries from the Global South can create a more inclusive, diversified power structure that better represents the needs and challenges of developing nations.

Q 3: “How do India’s bilateral relations with China and Russia influence its stance in BRICS?”
Answer:
India’s bilateral relations with China and Russia create a complex web of considerations, including security concerns and trade imbalances, that influence its diplomatic and policy decisions within the BRICS framework.

Q 4: “What are the challenges India faces in maintaining its democratic principles within the BRICS alliance?”
Answer:
India must navigate the tightrope between adhering to its democratic values and principles and the pragmatic needs of cooperation with non-democratic nations within the BRICS framework.

Q 5: “How can BRICS nations mitigate the risks of de-globalization and unilateral sanctions?”
Answer:
To counter the threats of de-globalization and unilateral sanctions, BRICS nations should focus on mutually beneficial cooperation across sectors like supply chains, energy, and finance, and potentially consider the formation of a common currency.

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