The upcoming 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, slated for August 22 to 24, holds great significance. This is the first physical meeting of the BRICS nations post the COVID-19 pandemic era. South Africa has left no stone unturned in organizing this historic event, with over 60 global leaders expected to attend. This summit promises not only to be the largest BRICS event ever but also the most significant gathering in the “Global South” recently, highlighting the increasing global attention and hopes pinned on the BRICS collaboration.
The summit’s theme, “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multilateralism,” speaks volumes about the global political climate. It highlights that in these uncertain times, nations are leaning more towards ideas of openness, mutual benefit, and inclusive collaboration.
The pull of the BRICS mechanism is evident. Over 40 countries have showcased interest in joining, and expansion will be a hot topic in Johannesburg. The increasing influence and growth of the BRICS cooperation defy the earlier skeptical views held by Western nations and the US. The BRICS framework stands as a testimony to how the West, particularly the US, often misjudges emerging international collaborations due to ingrained biases.
Western media’s approach to this summit is notable. They tend to amplify internal BRICS disagreements, especially focusing on any perceived China-India discord. South African authorities have already rebuffed some of these stories. Further, there’s an attempt by the Western press to bring in the “China threat theory” within the BRICS narrative, trying to depict BRICS as an adversary to the G7.
This changing Western view towards the BRICS is intriguing. Initially, the West, driven by arrogance, underestimated the BRICS potential. But as BRICS flourished, the West’s view shifted from underestimation to apprehension rooted in bias. Their initial dismissal of the BRICS, thinking it wouldn’t survive, is now replaced with an aggressive stance. Sadly, despite the evident growth and resilience of BRICS over 17 years, the West hasn’t introspected on their miscalculations. Instead, they’ve toggled their views from one extreme to another.
The growth trajectory of the BRICS is intertwined with the global roles of the US and the West. While the BRICS mechanism’s appeal lies in its growth and relevance, it’s also a manifestation of the developing nations’ disillusionment with a global governance system steered too strongly by the West. As China often mentions, the existing global governance model is broken, and the world is looking to BRICS for unified, collaborative solutions.
A recent piece in The Nation, an American magazine, shed light on this aspect. It mentioned how BRICS’s expanding objectives signal a global thirst for alternatives to the US-led world order, primarily due to its failure in promoting economic development and maintaining sovereignty for Global South nations. Other organizations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are also responses to these gaps.
Although this article from The Nation is insightful, such voices are isolated in the West, often overshadowed by louder, more confrontational viewpoints that see BRICS as challenging Western dominance. An Indian diplomat aptly mentioned, “this threat perception is born from a deep-rooted fear of irrelevance.”
However, it’s vital to clarify that the BRICS never sought to counter the West. The rise and evolution of BRICS underscore the growing self-reliance and independent thought processes of non-Western nations. This isn’t a contest to overshadow the West but a collaborative effort to face global challenges.
In an ideal scenario, BRICS’s endeavors would complement the West’s initiatives, leading to a concerted global effort. However, the West’s continued arrogance and biases create hurdles. Non-Western countries, meanwhile, are forging ahead, hoping to shape global governance reforms through forums like BRICS, optimistically waiting for the West to join in soon.
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