The BRICS Test For India’s Multipolarity Rhetoric

GS Paper II International Relations

Context:

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit is being held in South Africa, (from August 22 to August 24).

Significance of the BRICS:

Capable of influencing the future of world politics.
More globally represented than the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the G-7, though less than the G-20 which is dominated by the West.
More inclusive forum for global governance
40-odd countries have formally or informally expressed interest in joining an expanded BRICS

Concerns with the BRICS:

India’s Position:

India has traditionally opposed the creation of blocs as they go against the fundamental spirit of equitable global governance and multipolarity. However, became a part of the following blocs:
- Part of Non-Western Multilateral Forums like BRICS, SCO and Global South.
- Part of Western Multilateral Forums like Quad [Australia, Japan, the U.S., India], G-20 and BRICS and all-time invitee of G-7 (in few last years).
India is located in the middle of an emerging geopolitical fault line with interests on either side, welcomed by either side, but fully belonging to neither.
For India, multipolarity is about equity, inclusion and representation, not bloc rivalry, ideological or otherwise.

The Path Ahead:

India must promote a more representative and equitable global governance and ensure that such an order does not reduce its own national interests.
India must moderate the influence of China in non-western forums.
India must make sure not to alienate other countries in the global South who may see merit in China’s efforts at expanding the membership of those forums.
It’s the time for India to take various steps simultaneously to prove its leadership in the World like asserting itself in non-western global forums, checking the steadily growing Chinese influence, and dealing with western normative expectations while negotiating a place for itself in Eurocentric forums.