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India is hosting the BRICS summit this weekend as the coalition of emerging economies gathers amid internal tensions. A member state has faced months of military conflict and retaliated against fellow bloc members, yet all nations are preparing to convene in New Delhi. The gathering represents the third effort by these countries to reach agreement on a regional conflict that has dominated international discourse and weakened economies throughout the year.
The alliance, which now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia, was established to counter Western-led global institutions. However, analysts suggest the bloc has struggled to develop a unified alternative to Western frameworks. The U.S. dollar maintains its international dominance, and disagreements among members limit their ability to coordinate on foreign policy and security matters.
Some scholars argue that measuring BRICS success by its capacity to replace Western institutions misses the point. Instead, they contend the bloc’s primary value lies in complicating Western economic and political influence. Researchers note that BRICS provides Global South nations with alternative platforms for cooperation and increased negotiating leverage, allowing them to bypass traditional Western-dominated channels. The group emerged following the 2008 financial crisis and WTO failures, driven by developing nations seeking greater autonomy in international affairs rather than complete systemic transformation.
Experts emphasize that BRICS prioritizes practical benefits like facilitating trade, securing development assistance without strings attached, and reducing Western pressure on governance issues. These achievements signal meaningful shifts in global power dynamics, even if they fall short of revolutionary change.
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Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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