What Is the Origin and What Are the Goals of the BRICS Coalition - Coursework Example

Introduction: Viola, Borges, Dwyer & Ribeiro explains that currently, the international system is unipolar in nature. This means that there is only a single superpower in the international system. This super-power is identified as United States in the international system, and protects the interests of their members. Examples of these actors include the European Union, ASEAN, and the Shanghai Corporation. In the 21st century, another global actor has emerged, and it is referred to as the BRICS nations. These are countries that are experiencing enormous economic growth, and hence making them influential in the international system. Countries that are members of BRICS, includes, Brazil, China, South Africa, and India. These countries have a significant influence in global and regional affairs, and they are members of the G-20. This paper is an examination of the BRICS, and it identifies its origin, goals, and whether the BRICS coalition will succeed in their goals. Origin of the BRICS Coalition: Beausang (2012) explains that the economic potential of countries such as India, Russia and Brazil, could project them, making them some of the most dominant economies of the world, by the year 2050. This idea was first brought about by Jim O’Neill, an economist by profession, working for Goldman Sachs. Jim O’Neill in making these assertions was looking at various factors that played a role into the emergence of these countries into the global stage (Kornegay & Bohler-Müller, 2013). One such factor is the kind of land area that these countries were able to command. Countries such as India and China have a large land area, and their population is big. For instance, China is considered as the most populated country, with a population of about 1.35 billion people. India on the other hand, is also a largely populated country, having a population of about 1.25 billion people. This type of population is economically beneficial to these countries, mainly because they are able to attract a large number of multi-national companies, and other forms of foreign investments. Countries such as Brazil and Russia also command a huge number of people, hence making them a luxurious destination for foreign investments. It is because of this large number of people, making it possible for these countries to produce cheap labor and markets for international products, that the economies of these countries were able to emerge, and experience numerous growth. For purposes of becoming influential in the international system, these countries were able to form a coalition, referred to as BRIC. BRIC was an attempt by these countries to form a political cooperation, with the intention of influencing United States, into making some concessions, in regard to various trade accords. Furthermore, these countries formed the BRIC, with the intention of blackmailing United States, so that it could make some concessions in other political, social or military affairs, and an example, is the nuclear cooperation between the United States and India. In the year 2009, the four countries held their first summit meeting in Yekaterinburg. As the most dominant African economic power, South Africa also sought to be included as a member of the BRIC coalition. The process of joining the organization began in August, and in December 2010, the President of China, Hu Jintao wrote a letter, inviting South Africa as a member of the BRIC coalition. Letter S was added, and the name changed to BRICS, with the last letter being an acronym of South Africa. However, Jim O’Neill explains that South Africa was unlikely member, and this is specifically because its economy could not be comparable to the economies of thee four original nations, and it had a small population of 50 million people. The Objectives of the BRICS Coalition: During the first summit of the BRICS coalition, this was held in Yekaterinburg, the coalition came up with one of their demands, in which they asserted that there is a need of the international system becoming multi-polar. This means that the international system should not be dominated by one state, but by several states and different actors. The BRICS nations demanded an equal opportunity and status in the international system, and it was their desire to also influence the global political systems. Their demands in the creation of a multi-polar system, was seen as a challenge to the United States, which is the one which is dominating the political and economic affairs of the international system. Furthermore, some of the countries under the BRICS coalition were also demanding a permanent position in the UN Security council. One of the theoretical frameworks that can be used for purposes of explaining this situation, and the demands and objectives of the BRICS coalition is realism. According to the principles of realism, states normally engage in international relations for purposes of protecting their own self interests. This means that any policy or agreement that a state seeks to pursue within the international system is based upon protecting their own interests. Take for example, a country such as China and Russia (Jones, 2012). The Chinese and the Russians are seeking to engage the United States as equal partners, and through this coalition, these states are hoping that they would manage to coerce United States into viewing them as equal partners within the global community. This attribute is better depicted by the statements of President Putin, in his invasion of Crimea. President Putin denoted that the international community should view Russia as a global power, and it should be viewed as an equal partner of United States. This means that the self-interest of the Russians is to amass power within the international system (Kobayashi-Hillary, 2008). Russia believes that it is possible to achieve this objective by joining the BRICS coalition. China on the other hand seeks to be a dominant player in the Asian Pacific region, and the country believes that it can only achieve this objective by challenging the United States, which is a dominant player in the Asian-Pacific region. It would therefore be difficult to achieve this objective, without challenging the dominance of United States in the International System. India and Brazil are also motivated by their own self-interests, and this includes their desire to play a more influential role in the global political system. For instance, it was amongst the demands of India and Brazil, to be allocated a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. This means that the two states would hold a veto power, and hence play an influential role in the international system. South Africa is a new member, and it is one of the African economically developed countries. South Africa aims at improving its economic abilities and growth, and this is by gaining the support of the BRICS states (Carnoy, Dobri︠a︡kova, Dossani, Froumin, Kuhns, Tilak, & Wang, 2013). It is therefore difficult for the country to achieve this objective, when the international system is unipolar. This is the reason why it supported the creation of a multi-polar world system, where many actors can play a role in influencing the activities of the international system. One of the strategies that these nations want to use, for purposes of achieving their objectives is undermining the role of the dollar in the international system, and creation of a development bank, that would undermine the IMF and the World Bank, which are heavily controlled by the United States, and its allies. In fact, there are negotiations in the creation of a development bank that is controlled by the BRICS nations (Jain, 2006). However, disagreements arise on the country that should have a more control of the bank, with China wanting a controlling stake, because of the size of its economy, and the amount of contribution that it would take into the bank. The aim of this development bank is to replace the IMF and the World Bank as the dominant financial systems in the world. Whether the BRICS Would Succeed: Great debate arises on whether the BRICS nations would succeed in achieving a multi-polar international system, and gaining a more influential role in the global political and economic system. On whether these countries would succeed or not, depends on the point of argument that an individual is using. Panova (2013) maintains that the BRICS nations would not succeed in the creation of a multi-polar international system, hence, having a more influence in the manner in which decisions are made in the international system. For instance, Shubin (2013) explains that there are suspicions between the Indians and the Chinese. These suspicions are brought about because of their histories of conflicts. For instance, in 1962, China and India were able to engage in a war, over the disputed region of the Himalayan border. Because of these territorial conflicts, suspicion between India and China still exists. Furthermore, these countries forming the BRICS nations are coming from different regions, and they have different economic capabilities. For instance, China is the biggest economy amongst the BRICS nations, and it is demanding a more influential role within the coalition. This is an aspect that other members of the coalition are unwilling to give. South Africa on the other hand is a very small economy, comprising of only 50 million people, which is very small, compared to the number of people who are in India and China. Furthermore, the economies of these countries are not strong enough, to be able to challenge the dominant economy of United States, and that of its allies, mainly United Kingdom, and France. It is based on these facts that Beausang & Beausang-Hunter (2012) maintains that the BRICS coalition does not have the capability of creating a multi-polar international system. Schaefer & Poffenbarger (2014) on the other hand disagrees with this assertion. Panova (2013) believes that in the current international system, the position of United States is beginning to be challenged by other actors such as the European Union, and the rise of China. Furthermore, Lo & Hiscock (2014) believes that because of the numerous wars that United States has engaged with, the economy of the country is becoming weak, and hence making it unable to project international influence, all over the world. However, Li (2014) is wrong in these assertions, and this is mainly because the economy of United States has been experiencing some elements of growth in the recent years. This is despite the wars that the country has been engaging in. Panova (2013) further asserts that it is possible for the BRICS coalition to develop a multi-polar international system, by creating another monetary unit that can challenge the dollar, and a financial system that can challenge the roles of IMF and the World Bank. This objective is difficult to attain, mainly because most of the international trade is conducted through the use of the dollar, and these countries are unable to create a development bank, because of suspicions amongst each other, and the inability to agree on who should control the institution. It is based on these facts, that the BRICS coalition, would find it difficult to achieve their objectives and aims. Conclusion: In conclusion, the major objective of the BRICS coalition is to achieve a multi-polar system, where its members can have the capability of influencing the affairs of the global system. It is difficult to achieve this objective and this mainly because the international system is characterized by the desire of states to pursue their own self interests. The members of the BRICS states have their own self-interests to pursue, and they are not common. For instance, China seeks to dislodge United States as the most influential player in the Asian Pacific region and it is difficult to achieve this objective, with the heavy presence of United States in the region. One of the methods that these states seek to use, in achieving their objectives, is undermining the role of World Bank, and this is through the creation of their own bank, the development bank. However, disagreements arise, on which country should play a dominant role in the bank, with China seeking thee position, and objections arise from Russia and India. This is an indication that suspicions still exists amongst the members of this coalition, making it difficult for these coalition to achieve their objectives. References: Top of Form BEAUSANG, F. (2012). Globalization and the BRICs: why the BRICs will not rule the world for long. Globalization and the BRICs. Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan. Bottom of Form Top of Form BEAUSANG, F., & BEAUSANG-HUNTER, F. A. (2012). Globalization and the BRICs: why the BRICs will not rule the world for long. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan. Top of Form CARNOY, M., LOYALKA, P., DOBRI︠A︡KOVA, M. S., DOSSANI, R., FROUMIN, I. D., KUHNS, K., TILAK, J. B. G., & WANG, R. (2013). University expansion in a changing global economy triumph of the BRICs?. FIRSING, S. (2012). Brics Diamond Diplomacy in Angola. Journal of History and Diplomatic Studies. Bottom of Form Top of Form JAIN, S. C. (2006). Emerging economies and the transformation of international business Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs). Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar. Bottom of Form Top of Form JONES, S. (2012). BRICS and beyond executive lessons on emerging markets. Hoboken, N.J., Wiley. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form KOBAYASHI-HILLARY, M. (2008). Building a future with BRICs the next decade for offshoring. Berlin, Springer. Top of Form KORNEGAY, F. A., & BOHLER-MÜLLER, N. (2013). 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