The First Fifteen Years of the BRICS

The First Fifteen Years of the BRICS
Authors: John Kirton, Marina Larionova
Journal: International Organisations Research Journal
Volume & Issue: Volume 17, No. 2
Published: 2022

This article provides a comprehensive assessment of the first fifteen years of BRICS, examining the evolving institutional dynamics, performance, and global contributions of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Since the first BRICS summit in 2009, the member countries have committed to building a transparent economic architecture, supporting G20 reforms, and deepening intra-group cooperation. The study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate the outcomes of 13 annual summits, noting 933 collective commitments with an overall compliance rate of 77%.

The article highlights the expansion of the BRICS agenda into 34 subjects and the development of intra-BRICS institutions, including the New Development Bank, alongside extensive second-track networks involving business, think tanks, academia, trade unions, youth, and civil society. Despite tensions among members and challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the BRICS has strengthened its institutional depth and resilience.

Established as a dialogue and policy coordination forum, BRICS has matured into a transregional governance institution addressing political-security, socioeconomic, and people-to-people issues. While consensus-based decision-making sometimes limited bold leadership, the group has effectively facilitated bilateral relations among members, promoted convergence on global governance approaches, and contributed to a more inclusive and representative international institutional system.