The First Fifteen Years of the BRICS

At the first BRIC(S) summit in 2009, leaders of major emerging market countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) from different continents committed to build a democratic transparent economic architecture, support efforts Group 20 (G20) reform international financial institutions, restore growth, deepen intra-group cooperation. Since then, views expressed literature on BRICS (expanded include South Africa 2010) have ranged harsh dismissal as meaningless investment banker’s acronym its identification new power centre with profound impact global order. The authors offer an updated, systematic assessment BRICS’ evolving institutional dynamics, performance, contribution cooperation among members, governance whole. Using qualitative quantitative methods, they identify achievements each 13 annual summits through three five-year hosting cycles, leaders’ agreements 933 collective commitments, their countries’ compliance them at level 77% overall. Further, highlight expansion group’s agenda into 34 subjects, process building intra-BRICS institutions New Development Bank (NDB) hallmark, extensive second track networks including Business, Think Tanks Academic, Trade Unions, Parliamentarian, Youth Civil BRICS. In 15 years, expanded sustained depth, performance despite external domestic challenges, tensions between unprecedented tests COVID19 pandemic ensuing socio-economic crises since 2020. Established dialogue policy coordination forum, it matured transregional institution comprehensive political-security, socio-economic, people-to-people agenda. Its dense networks, flexibility, continuity, foundational principle moving forward only issues acceptable all members were vital factors for resilience evolution. Although broadening inhibited deepening cooperation, there was considerable continuity across presidencies. Progress more tangible than that architecture reform, unwavering commitment equitable consensus-based working methods sometimes constrained leadership. However, proved value platform facilitating members’ bilateral relations convergence approaches, promoting role governance, advancing inclusive, representative, effective system.