Towards a Policy Framing Agenda of the Global South : BRICS and the Challenges of Geopolitics in a Globalized World (2025)
Concept Note
Introduction:
While initially identified as a “lazy acronym” and an “arranged marriage”, the BRIC concept duly evolved. The transition from “BRIC” to “BRICS” with the inclusion of South Africa in 2010 marked the bloc’s first expansion. At the 15th Summit in Johannesburg, the bloc doubled its membership by adding vital regional players like Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. This inclusion positions BRICS as a powerful bloc representing 45% of the world’s population, 28% of global GDP, 25% of global trade, 40% of global oil production and 25% of the world’s landmass. This amplifies BRICS’ economic and demographic significance and diversifies and strengthens its strategic reach. As such, BRICS could exert more significant influence in shaping global economic policies, trade agreements and security arrangements, posing a formidable challenge to traditional Western hegemony. The combined GDP of the BRICS countries expanded significantly since the bloc’s establishment, and they have emerged as major drivers of the global economy. These countries have also made significant progress towards economic cooperation and integration due to their increasing economic strength. There have been evident strides in critical areas such as South-South cooperation, trade and institutional cooperation, and concerted action to address global challenges.
The BRICS Summit under Russian presidency in Kazan (22-24 October 2024) underlined its intention to foster relations with the Global South and East through an expanded presence that included 30 delegations, 22 heads of state or government and representations from several international organizations like the United Nations with General Secretary Antonio Guterres in attendance. NATO member Türkiye, attended the Summit and applied for membership. The Kazan Declaration of BRICS 2024 emphasized the BRICS motto “BRICS and the Global South: Building a Better World Together.” The idea is to fight challenges through political, economic, and financial security, people-to-people cooperation, cultural exchange, and enhancing strategic partnerships. One of the significant outcomes was the outreach towards the Global South and East with an intention to include developing countries with their emerging economies from these regions. Chinese President Xi Jinping in his speech at Kazan pointed out that the enlargement of BRICS is a major milestone in its history, and a landmark event in the evolution of the international situation. He mentioned that the movement towards peace and development, seeking common ground while reserving differences and working together would not only strengthen BRICS but the idea of the Global South.
The Rio-de Janeiro Declaration of the BRICS Brazil Summit 2025, similarly focused on the critical significance of strengthening the idea of the Global South for equitable sustainable development. The leaders of the 17 countries under BRICS and the BRICS+ agreed to strengthen multilateral cooperation among themselves to “improve global governance by promoting a more equitable, agile, effective, efficient, responsive, representative, legitimate, democratic and accountable international system in the spirit of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits.” The reaffirmation of the bloc’s commitment to work together, despite bilateral differences, was reiterated repeatedly making BRICS one of the strongest contenders for the conceptualization of an alternative equitable global order. The Rio de Janeiro declaration also mentioned the need to strengthen relationship between Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Advocating for the sustainable development policies for the countries of the Global South, the last two declarations (Kazan and Rio de Janeiro) emphasized promotion of peace, human security and international stability. They advocated for a multilateral approach which acknowledged diverse viewpoints to combat a multiplicity of global social concerns including climate change, transitions in global governance systems, economy, sustainable development, social security, labour and similar other issues.
While, in principle, BRICS has made significant progress in fostering a multipolar global order, its ability to deliver on its stated goals remains indeterminate. Whether through innovative financial mechanisms, expanded trade, or reformed global governance structures, BRICS must demonstrate its capacity to act as a transformative force for the Global South. The bloc must also address internal divisions, enhance cooperation, and ensure its initiatives translate into tangible outcomes. Rather than being positioned as anti-West, it would probably be best if the bloc is seen as an alternative where options to the G7 perspectives emerge from within the members of the bloc which then come together to seek a more equitable global order and alternative systems of trading. In this context the evolution of the BRICS+ format is significant, though, defining a set of criteria that accommodates the inclusion of a diverse range of members could be challenging particularly since decisions are taken by consensus. The challenge is not in allowing expansion of the group, but trying to come to a consensus about what policy decisions are taken and on which issues and how they are implemented.
In view of the specific nature of the historical evolution of BRICS and challenges it faces Calcutta Research Group proposes to explore some of issues which have policy implications for the BRICS countries. The issues are:
(a) Possibilities of the bloc emerging as a voice of the Global South that takes up the position that the nonaligned movement once held in global politics in which the new dynamics of conflict management and geopolitics will become increasingly crucial;
(b) The impact of BRICS on global food security and the possibilities of improved coordination among member states through the Agriculture Action Plan, market stability and a more equitable food distribution;
(c) BRICS and Climate Governance that looks into the interplay between climate change, economic development of the global south, and shifts in global power structures;
(d) The possibilities of a reshaping of global governance and allowing the Global South greater flexibility in pursuing its goals through the BRICS platform on issues like food security, energy and infrastructure, particularly the BRI (Belt and Road Initiative);
(e) As BRICS+ enhances the role of the NDB by expanding its financial capacity and reach, the possibilities of increased collaboration on infrastructure projects, particularly in the Global South, promoting shared development goals;
(f) Finally, three critical issues “internal” to the BRICS member countries, but will impact on the group as a collective: (i) displacement, internal migration, and protection and rights of migrant labour; and (ii) minority rights; and (iii) women’s empowerment and development.
