For most coalitions — and especially so when they involve developing countries — there are usually doomsayers predicting its premature death. The BRICS has been subject to such scepticism for many years now.
Image Source: Journalists at the international media centre of the BRICS and SCO Summit — 7 July 2015, Ufa, Russia. © Ria Novosti/Getty
In keeping with the old adage of “a friend in need is a friend indeed,” crises can be quite revealing about who one’s friends really are. In this article, I address the question: what does the current coronavirus pandemic tell us about the relevance and resilience of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) as a political grouping? The extent to which the BRICS platform serves as a forum for collective action in these difficult times matters, first and foremost, for the members themselves. As all five economies face some serious development challenges of their own, having reliable allies to turn to can be a valuable resource (e.g. for access to medicines, equipment, personnel, technology, learning from each other’s experiences). Equally important, though, is the impact that the BRICS can have on the outside — international institutions, as well as other large and small players — depending on whether they coordinate some of their negotiating positions and present a collective front, or not. Cracks within the BRICS, on the other hand, potentially offer new allies and coalition partners for outsiders.
"As all five economies face some serious development challenges of their own, having reliable allies to turn to can be a valuable resource."
This article proceeds in three parts. In the first section, I highlight some steps that the BRICS have taken as a group to signal their commitment to collective action and mutual help. In the second section, I point to the limitations of these moves, and also growing polarisation within the group. The third section offers some conclusions and policy recommendations.
The life of Brazil, Russia, India and China as an acronym began in a Goldman Sachs study by Jim O’Neill in 2001.
When the coronavirus epidemic emerged, the BRICS responded. At a meeting of the BRICS Sherpas/Sous-Sherpas on 11 February, a “Russian BRICS Chairmanship Statement,” expressed sympathy, support, and solidarity for China. It promised, “The BRICS countries are ready to cooperate closely with China.” The BRICS countries also underlined “the importance of avoiding discrimination, stigma and overreaction while responding to the outbreak.” Additionally, the statement called for the strengthening of scientific cooperation on infectious diseases and public health.
The BRICS’ New Development Bank approved an Emergency Loan of 7 billion Renminbi to help assist China combat COVID-19 on 19 March 2020, with an eye especially to helping China’s three hardest-hit provinces of Hubei, Guangdong, and Henan. This loan — from China’s request to the approval of the board — was approved in a record time of one month.
As the pandemic spread, causing extreme human and economic destruction in its wake, the BRICS foreign ministers met via videoconference on 28 April. Besides reiterating the importance of multilateral cooperation and their commitment to it, the five foreign ministers are also reported to have agreed on the creation of a loan instrument of $15 billion for financing economic recovery.
All the above moves could be read as signals of the BRICS to stand together against the coronavirus. But a closer look behind this professed unity is in order.
For most coalitions — and especially so when they involve developing countries — there are usually doomsayers predicting its premature death. The BRICS has been subject to such scepticism for many years now, driven partly by the many disparities among the members. The grouping, after all, did bring together a mix of democratic and authoritarian regimes, with very different societal structures, resource bases, developmental trajectories, and historical traditions. The current pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing differences amongst the BRICS. And while the differences are multiple across the various dyads, the most pertinent at this point are those between the most powerful member of the BRICS — China — and the others. I highlight these below.
"The BRICS has been subject to such scepticism for many years now, driven partly by the many disparities among the members."
Amidst the cooperation within the BRICS dyads, the smoothest seems to be between China and Russia. For example, at a press conference following the Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated, “When we talk about cooperation with China, we cite facts. There are many of them. We are not hiding them from anyone. They include specific forms of assistance: the delivery of humanitarian supplies, medicine and testing kits, medical specialists were dispatched, there were mutual consultations and many more things.”
The other dyads with China within the BRICS have run into more visible difficulties. In the case of Brazil-China, as the virus has spread, it has resulted in public finger-pointing and name-calling from both sides.
"The other dyads with China within the BRICS have run into more visible difficulties."
Taken together, these examples are more than just a series of diplomatic “spats”. They come in a context of increasing suspicion about Chinese regional and global ambition. Signs of this ambition can be found in China’s Belt and Road Initiative; the acquisition of the “string of pearls”; adventurism in the neighbouring seas;
The pandemic has had a perverse effect on the BRICS as a political grouping. It has revealed old faultlines, and exacerbated them further. Within the grouping, other alignments are also emerging. For example, Russia, among the four, seems to be moving closer to China, even as it confronts other major players outside. Brazil and India, in contrast, seem to have come closer together — witness the export of hydroxychloroquine and paracetamol by India to Brazil, and Brazil’s expression of gratitude through a reference to Indian traditions.
First, it is difficult to see the BRICS serving as a negotiating platform for its members, given the clear divergence of interests that the pandemic has reinforced. No amount of lip-service to multilateralism can overcome the risks, which this pandemic has brought to the fore, of over-reliance on crucial supply chains that can be weaponised. This risk is even higher when dealing with competitors and rivals, and the Ch-India dyad is indeed one that has involved competition and rivalry for decades. Add to this the discontent expressed by Brazil and South Africa against China in recent weeks, and it is clear that the BRICS grouping is not the united front (e.g. towards the creation of a parallel world order, or even reform the existing world order) that it was envisioned to be. This does not mean that the BRICS will disappear; it does mean though that its limited impact will weaken even further.
Second, thus far, debates on decoupling have focused primarily on the US and China. But the divisions that the pandemic has exposed within the BRICS create new opportunities for actors that do not wish to become collateral damage in a new cold war. For instance, working together with India and South Africa, the EU could chart a third way for like-minded players. Some of the BRICS countries could be valuable allies for the reform of multilateralism, a renegotiation of the bargain on globalisation, and the refurbishment of a liberal world order.
A shorter version of this essay was first published as: Amrita Narlikar, ‘The Politics of the BRICS amidst the Pandemic,’ in Gian Luca Gardini (edited), The World Before and After COVID-19: Intellectual Reflections on Politics, Diplomacy, and International Relations, Salamanca-Stockholm, European Institute of International Relations, May 2020, https://www.ieeiweb.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Full_book_FINAL_EN2.0-UNIDO.pdf.
As such, my focus is fundamentally different from the plethora of writings on how the pandemic will affect the growth prospects of the emerging markets. For a useful analysis of the economic consequences, see Adam Tooze, ‘The Coronavirus is the biggest emerging markets crisis ever,’ Foreign Policy, 28 March 2020.
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Dr. Amrita Narlikar’s research expertise lies in the areas of international negotiation, World Trade Organization, multilateralism, and India’s foreign policy & strategic thought. Amrita is Distinguished ...
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