- By: Tehzeeb Hussain Bercha
Global geopolitics is undergoing a profound transformation, characterized by an accelerating shift toward a multipolar order that challenges the decades-long preeminence of the United States. The BRICS bloc—originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and later joined by South Africa—continues to expand at a remarkable pace, reflecting the dynamism of emerging powers. Having already welcomed four new members in 2024, BRICS is now poised to incorporate nine additional partner nations in January 2025. By then, it will represent nearly half of the world’s population and command over 41% of the global GDP.
The unipolar world order that emerged in the aftermath of the Cold War, dominated by U.S. strategic and economic primacy, is gradually yielding to a more fragmented and competitive landscape. This ongoing recalibration is driven by several factors, notably the rise of coalitions like BRICS, the growing adoption of multi-alignment strategies by rising powers, and the intensifying rivalry between the United States and China. On the other hand, the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict suggests that Russia’s competitors may have been resistant to the restoration of the traditional balance of power in Eurasia following the unipolar moment. The recent announcement by President Joe Biden of nearly USD 2.5 billion in additional military support to Ukraine further amplifies tensions, potentially entrenching global fault lines.
Within this evolving context, the rising influence of China and Russia looms large. China, spearheading the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has entrenched its presence in global infrastructure, technology, and finance. Russia, meanwhile, champions BRICS and enjoys considerable clout within global energy markets, particularly through coordination with OPEC and OPEC+. Taken together, these powers aim to influence major governance decisions independently from traditional Western-led institutions. Simultaneously, the United States finds its longstanding global dominance under mounting pressure. China’s model—emphasizing peaceful cooperation, non-colonial engagement, and respect for state sovereignty—serves as a powerful alternative to what many perceive as historically Western-centric or interventionist approaches.
The notion of BRIC originated in 2001 when Jim O’Neill, then a Goldman Sachs economist, identified the convergent economic trajectories of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. These nations, he posited, would redefine global economic hierarchies in the early 21st century. Over time, BRICS has proven this thesis largely accurate, as its members collectively reshaped international finance, trade patterns, and development agendas. Recent decisions to invite key energy exporters—most notably Saudi Arabia and Iran—indicate an explicit desire to challenge Western-led consortiums such as the G7. This challenge became evident when former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on BRICS, underscoring the growing anxiety in Washington over the bloc’s expanding clout.
Historically, many of these nations held significant economic influence before experiencing colonization and foreign intervention. China, now the world’s second-largest economy with a GDP exceeding USD 14 trillion, has ascended to become the workshop of the world through a combination of export-led growth, rapid industrialization, and massive infrastructure investments. India, for its part, has emerged as a global hub for information technology, with its software services sector contributing approximately 8% of its GDP. Robust foreign investment in key industries has made New Delhi a central player in the global tech ecosystem. These trajectories were shaped by colonial legacies: Brazil was long under Portuguese rule, India and South Africa fell under British dominion, and China was subjected to a series of foreign interventions that culminated in what is referred to as its “century of humiliation.” Such shared experiences of external subjugation have fostered common perspectives on sovereignty, development, and fairness in international institutions, laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation among BRICS members.
The United States, for decades, maintained its hegemony by leveraging financial institutions rooted in the Bretton Woods system, forging robust military alliances like NATO, and exercising control over global reserve currencies. This architecture allowed Washington to exert outsized influence, whether through economic sanctions or by steering development policies via the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. However, the advent of competing alliances such as BRICS has begun to dilute these long-standing advantages. The recent spate of de-dollarization efforts—led principally by China and Russia—has gained traction, as the Chinese yuan, the Russian ruble, the renminbi, and the Indian rupee increasingly feature in international energy trading.
Against this backdrop, BRICS’ latest round of expansion signals a renewed push toward an inclusive and participatory global order. By diversifying its membership beyond the original core, BRICS underscores an aspiration to represent the interests of the Global South and to forge a genuinely rules-based system that transcends the traditional stronghold of Western powers. In this prospective architecture, nations that once stood on the periphery of great power politics now see a chance to assert their voices and benefit from multilateral decision-making. For countries like Pakistan, joining BRICS offers the potential to amplify economic, trade, and connectivity opportunities; deepen cooperation with Africa and Latin America; enhance energy and technology ties with Russia; and participate constructively in shaping the norms of a multipolar era marked by ongoing rulemaking, currency diversification, and shifting power dynamics.
Looking ahead, the challenge facing the international community lies in promoting dialogue over discord and fostering institutions that genuinely embody multilateral principles. In an interconnected system where digital, financial, and security interests intersect, inclusive cooperation becomes indispensable. BRICS offers a template for a more equitable future, one defined by shared objectives in development, energy, infrastructure, and climate action. As power continues to diffuse beyond a single hegemon, stakeholders must remain vigilant in ensuring that emergent blocs do not replicate the imbalances they aim to replace.
- The author is a freelance columnist affiliated with an Islamabad-based think tank. He posts on X under the handle @tehzeeb_says.