The dynamics of informal institutions and counter-hegemony: introducing a BRICS Convergence Index

The dynamics of informal institutions and counter-hegemony: introducing a BRICS Convergence Index
Authors: Mihaela Papa, Zhen Han, Frank O’Donnell
Journal: European Journal of International Relations
Volume & Issue: Volume 29, Issue 4
Published: July 13, 2023

This article investigates the internal dynamics of informal institutions, focusing on BRICS—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—and their capacity to act as a counter-hegemonic platform. The authors develop a BRICS Convergence Index to measure policy alignment among BRICS members across 47 policy issues between 2009 and 2021. By comparing these positions with US policy preferences, the study identifies areas of convergence and contestation. Results show an overall increase in BRICS policy convergence, with growing engagement in security issues post-2015, enhancing their ability to counter US influence.

The study highlights that informal institutions gain robustness through member agency and issue-based cooperation, challenging traditional views of state-led plurilateralism. BRICS’ evolution reflects both negotiation for global governance reforms and strategic bloc behavior. The analysis suggests that informal institutions can consolidate power despite their flexibility and informality, influencing global governance dynamics.

Policy and research implications include using the Convergence Index to examine other informal institutions, such as IBSA or the Quad, and disaggregating components to track leadership influence, issue linkages, and policy agenda diffusion. The framework can also explore divergence from both US and EU policies, offering insights into counter-hegemonic strategies and institutional durability amid rising global tensions, including post-Ukraine invasion geopolitics.