Shifting Geopolitical Landscape: BRICS Plus Clash with G-8 in Emerging World Setup
In a world where power and influence stretch far and wide, the United States, historically a dominant player, finds itself challenged by unexpected competitors. This challenger, China, has managed to outmaneuver the US, thanks to a combination of domestic economic reforms and shrewd diplomacy. Increasingly, China has been boosting its trade, investment, and economic muscles, while Russia, allied with China and India, is striving to establish a new global economic system aimed at making a dent in the continuous unipolar system maintained by the US.
The Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) alliance is a testament to this shift. Rather than being integrated into the West's domain, these powers are forging new alliances with the goal of creating a new world order. As the Middle East, particularly the Gulf region, plays a vital role in the current global economic order, any successful reshaping of this order would likely see a significant role for Moscow, if it successfully redefines the role of Arab economies within the global context.
However, Russia's external economic footprint is relatively weak, and its external policies often fail to facilitate the propagation of its economic models. Achieving a geopolitical reordering of the world goes beyond military might and simply challenging the West's political influence; it requires a strong economic component, which Russia seems to be recognizing.
According to Dr. Ramzy Baroud, a journalist and editor of The Palestine Chronicle, "the move by Russia is a strategic one, aimed at ensuring that a multipolar economic world takes form." In support of this, Russia has been exiting many international organizations instead of maintaining membership and using these platforms to spread its global message. Self-isolation may be Russia's strategy, but it has come with heavy criticisms against the United States and Europe.
Russia's State Duma Speaker, Vyacheslav Volodin, has launched an initiative for multi-polarity. In June 2022, he stated that Western sanctions have created new points of growth in other countries, leading to the establishment of a new G-8 group consisting of China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Iran, and Turkey. This group, according to Volodin, is 24.4% ahead of the old G-8 group (the Group of Seven) in terms of GDP and purchasing power parity.
This new configuration, however, pits Russia against the established G-7 (the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, along with the European Union), as the BRICS are perceived as a threat to the roles of the United States, Britain, and the European Union. Indonesia, which will host the G-20 summit in Bali this November, aims to insulate the meeting from politics, but the chances of a sudden rapprochement between the United States and China, let alone between the US and Russia, are slim.
Nonetheless, the strategic alliance between Russia and China is strengthening, with China resisting attempts to exclude Russia from international organizations. Both are firm members of BRICS, but scholars like Dr. Pankaj Kumar Jha, Professor at O. P. Jindal Global University, suggest that the India-China border conflict will continue to influence BRICS. However, India and China are now cooperating to develop alternate financial structures and cohesive guidelines within Asia and the global south, aiming to reduce the dominance of the West in global financial architecture.
As possible new world orders are discussed, the focus is also on expanding traditional groupings like the G-7 to include Russia and China. Nevertheless, the political and ideological differences between these potential members and the mostly democratic G-7 nations could complicate consensus-building. The emergence of this new G-8, should it form, would mark a significant shift in global power dynamics, potentially giving a higher voice to large emerging and middle-income economies. However, its immediate realization and effectiveness are uncertain, as political and ideological differences among members and with existing powers pose significant challenges.
- In the face of rising competitors, the United States, traditionally dominant, now faces challenges from unexpected nations, notably China.
- China has navigated this landscape by implementing domestic economic reforms and diplomatic maneuvers, bolstering its trade, investment, and economic influence.
- In the background, Russia, allied with China and India, strives to establish a new global economic system, seeking to challenge the continuous unipolar system led by the US.
- The BRICS alliance — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — reflects this global shift, as these powers form new alliances to create a new world order.
- As the Middle East, particularly the Gulf region, holds significant influence in the current economic order, any reshaping would likely feature a prominent role for Moscow, if it successfully redefines the role of Arab economies.
- However, Russia's external economic footprint remains relatively weak, and its policies often fail to propagate its economic models effectively.
- To counter this, Russia is strategically exiting international organizations and launching initiatives for multi-polarity, such as the proposed new G-8 group, consisting of China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Iran, and Turkey.
- This new alliance, if it materializes, would pit Russia against the established G-7, as the BRICS are perceived as a threat to the roles of the US, Britain, and the European Union, potentially marking a significant shift in global power dynamics.
