BRICS Expansion: Redefining Global Structural Power in a Changing World Order

The document analyzes the evolution of BRICS, specifically the 2023 addition of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, and the 2024 introduction of a 'partner countries' category. Using Susan Strange's framework of structural power, it argues that BRICS is not seeking to create a rival system but to reshape global governance to be more representative of the global South. The analysis highlights the bloc's economic growth—surpassing the G7 in PPP terms around 2015—and its efforts to create alternative financial mechanisms like the New Development Bank (NDB) and local currency trade to reduce reliance on Western systems. It concludes that while internal diversity and regional rivalries challenge cohesion, the 'agree to disagree' principle allows BRICS to function as a catalyst for South-South cooperation.

• BRICS has experienced significant economic growth relative to G7 nations, with its aggregate GDP in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms reaching approximately $60 trillion by 2023 and surpassing the G7 around 2015.
• The bloc is leveraging 'structural power' across four pillars to challenge Western dominance: production (via China and India's manufacturing hubs), finance (through the NDB and CRA), knowledge (via AI, 5G, and space tech), and security (by expanding influence in the Middle East and Horn of Africa).
• To balance the desire for global influence with the need for internal cohesion, BRICS introduced a 'partner countries' category at the 2024 Kazan Summit, allowing for a more gradual integration process than full membership.
• BRICS employs a pragmatic 'agree to disagree' principle to manage the diverse political systems and strategic rivalries of its members, such as the tensions between India and China, focusing on non-controversial areas of cooperation.
• The group is actively working to reduce dependency on Western-led financial architectures by promoting the use of national currencies for cross-border payments and developing alternative payment systems to bypass SWIFT.
• BRICS serves as a catalyst for South-South cooperation by creating alternative economic linkages, sharing knowledge in agriculture, public health, and renewable energy, and advocating for the reform of Bretton Woods institutions.

APA

NAIDU, S., & DE CARVALHO, G. (2025). BRICS Expansion: Redefining Global Structural Power in a Changing World Order. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SAIIA_PI-160_BRICSExpansionGlobalStructuralPower.pdf

Chicago

NAIDU, SANUSHA, and GUSTAVO DE CARVALHO. BRICS Expansion: Redefining Global Structural Power in a Changing World Order. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2025. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SAIIA_PI-160_BRICSExpansionGlobalStructuralPower.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=NAIDU |first1=SANUSHA |last2=DE CARVALHO |first2=GUSTAVO |title=BRICS Expansion: Redefining Global Structural Power in a Changing World Order |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=January 2025 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SAIIA_PI-160_BRICSExpansionGlobalStructuralPower.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naidu2025brics, author = {NAIDU, SANUSHA and DE CARVALHO, GUSTAVO}, title = {{BRICS Expansion: Redefining Global Structural Power in a Changing World Order}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2025}, month = jan, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SAIIA_PI-160_BRICSExpansionGlobalStructuralPower.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }