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BRICS: Overpowered or Overrated?

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  • Peter Hennecke

Abstract

In sheer quantity, the five original BRICS countries appear impressive. They account for a substantial share of the world’s population, economy, trade and muster large militaries. In January 2024, BRICS gained even more steam, by admitting four new member states that participated in the most recent BRICS summit in Russia. Some Western media and politicians reacted alarmed. In September 2024, Turkey applied for membership as well. But can BRICS fully throw its weight on the world stage and form the intended counterweight to Western organizations? This paper systematically identifies commonalities, contradictions and conflicts of the BRICS states in different policy areas to ultimately determine whether they have sufficient common interests to act in unison. In essence, the various conflicting interests and in particular the intense rivalry between India and China make it unlikely that BRICS becomes more than a dialog platform for its members anytime soon. Trans-Abstract: Rein quantitativ wirken die fünf ursprünglichen BRICS-Staaten beeindruckend. Sie machen einen substanziellen Teil der Weltbevölkerung, Weltwirtschaft und des Welthandels aus und verfügen über große Militärs. Im Januar 2024 gewann BRICS durch die Aufnahme von vier neuen Mitgliedsstaaten, die auch am jüngsten BRICS-Gipfel in Russland teilnahmen, nochmals an Gewicht. Einige westliche Medien und Politiker reagierten alarmiert. Im September 2024 beantragte auch die Türkei die Mitgliedschaft. Aber können die BRICS-Staaten ihr volles Potential auf der Weltbühne entfalten und das angestrebte Gegengewicht zu westlichen Organisationen bilden? Dieses Papier untersucht systematisch Gemeinsamkeiten, Widersprüche und Konflikte der BRICS-Staaten in verschiedenen Politikbereichen, um letztendlich festzustellen, ob sie über ausreichend gemeinsame Interessen verfügen, um geschlossen zu handeln. Im Ergebnis erscheint es aufgrund der verschiedenen Interessenkonflikte und insbesondere der intensiven Rivalität zwischen Indien und China unwahrscheinlich, dass BRICS in absehbarer Zeit mehr als eine Dialogplattform für seine Mitglieder wird.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Hennecke, 2025. "BRICS: Overpowered or Overrated?," Vierteljahreshefte zur Arbeits- und Wirtschaftsforschung, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 2(1), pages 89-103.
    • Handle: RePEc:dah:aeqvaw:v2_y2025_i1_q1_p89-103
    DOI: 10.3790/vaw.2.1.89
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    F02; F15; F36; F40; F53; F55;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration
    • F40 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - General
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • F55 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Institutional Arrangements

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