International relations

Table of Contents

1. Introduction        2

2. The Enduring Dilemmas: the BRICS from the Realist Lens        2

3.  The BRICS as Fortifying Global Capitalism? The Marxist Prism        5

4. Conclusion        8

References        9

1. Introduction

Over the past decades, the ascendency of the Western-led liberal international order seems to have been destabilised by Global South states that managed to hold a firm position in global economy and politics (Ikenberry, 2018). Many observers suggested the potential challenging, or even threatening, nature of these emerging economies, as the political leverage they gained underlines how power structures are liable to change. Indeed, the post-war world order appears to be no longer defined exclusively in Western liberal terms, particularly with the rise of the BRICS countries –Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – whose union is seen as a competing the traditional system of global governance (Nuruzzaman, 2019).

This relatively new association formed by the BRICS has generated a great number of debates within the discipline of International Relations (Piper, 2015). Indeed, no shared consensus can be reached concerning what the outcomes stemming from this coalition may have on the international order. Considering both the alleged disruption of the global order by the BRICS countries and their role in fostering a transition to a multipolar world, it thereby raises interrogations about the extent to which their existence does represents a challenge to international politics, according to the different theories.

Therefore, assessing what the emergence of the BRICS involves by applying insights from the realist and Marxist theories is deemed relevant, as both approaches uphold drastically different stances on how the international system operate. By examining what this association potentially holds for global governance, this essay argues that the BRICS’ ascent only challenges the liberal features existing within the contemporary structures of the international system, as these countries do not initially align with Western powers’ market-driven forces of governance. However, it is also sustained that their overall impact on the current world order is limited, as these rising powers still perpetuate the imperatives of global capitalism, thus affecting their relevance and impact as a political coalition.

2. The Enduring Dilemmas: the BRICS from the Realist Lens

From a realist outlook, the rise of the BRICS as a political coalition embodies a potential threat to the conventional liberal international order. Although different variants of realism exist, a middle ground is found regarding the supposed reality of international politics. Within the context of anarchy, international relations are characterised by a constant struggle for both power and security, as the absence of central authority causes states to become self-seeking, which are the main units of analysis for this school (Grieco et al. 2019). In this hostile atmosphere in which states can solely rely on themselves for security matters, each of them starts to ensure their survival, also known as the self-help doctrine (Dunne & Schmidt, 2020). The resulting in mistrust and competition formed among self-interested countries lead them to maintain the balance of power to safeguard their existence, as their political and territorial integrity is always at stake (Grieco et al. 2019; Dunne & Schmidt, 2020). To counterbalance the hegemonic forces in the international arena, weaker states can establish alliances in such way that no power prevails over other states (Dunne & Schmidt, 2020). Moreover, the notion of power is central for states’ survival and security and is established through the acquisition of material capabilities, particularly the development of military resources (Walt, 1988). Therefore, the quest for power is vital for realist thought, as militarism and greater material resources not only prevent retaliation from threatening states but also maximise their survival.  

The realist logic would hence argue that the BRICS coalition is a natural response to Western hegemony on global governance since the member states cannot trust more powerful states under the anarchical structure of international politics. By resorting to join forces, the BRICS countries not only seek an equilibrium, that is, the balance of power but also assure their own survival. Furthermore, the self-help system also drives them to act independently since each of these countries’ survival is jeopardised due to the distrust between them. This can be illustrated by the fact that three member states possess nuclear weapons – China, India, and Russia – while also possessing large armies, thus optimising their material capabilities to both enhance their security and maintain the status quo (Armijo, 2007; Jayan, 2012).

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