An interview with Professor
and Dean of New Delhi- based Jindal School of International Affairs, Shreeram
Chaulia by RT.com:-
Economic
goals aside, a principle aim of the BRICS is creating a multi-polar world where
political change gives the people of member states more clout, professor
Shreeram Chaulia told RT.
South Africa
is making final arrangements for a summit of the world's fastest developing
economies – known as the BRICS group – which is due to start on Tuesday.
The heads of
government of Brazil, Russia, India, China and the host nation South Africa,
will convene for a fifth time, with the group being hailed as potential
game-changer for the International arena.
Professor
and dean of New Delhi-based Jindal School of International Affairs, Shreeram
Chaulia says the BRICS has justified its existence, making achievements both on
the economic and political fields.
RT:
This summit’s us significance is in the fact it concludes the first cycle
hosted by all the members. So what's the group actually achieved in that time?
Shreeram
Chaulia: It has grown in political maturity. I would say that from the early
days when it was seen as an upstart, was still getting its act together and
resolving and ironing out some differences – we have come a long way in five
years. The fact that these summits are continuing to be held is silencing some
of the critics, who said it was a marriage of convenience or just a short piece
item, nothing more. What we are seeing now is that the agenda has quite
advanced, especially, in the economic realm. The economic integration between
Latin America, Asia and Africa has been spearheaded by this vehicle of the
BRICS. And BRICS has become, I would say microcosm of the multi-polar world
order. And it’s no small achievement.
RT:
The new Chinese leader Xi Jinping has strengthened relations with Russia on his
first official visit abroad – to Moscow – will this have any significance on
the group?
SC:
Definitely, Russia and China are the central pillars of the BRICS. If you
remember they were the originators of the concept and they have in many ways
brought along South Africa, India and Brazil to play a larger role. And also
Russia and China are much more global in their overall approach towards the
world order and trying to transform the world order. The other three I would
say are a little more “status quiet”, although they too want to move towards
multi-polarity.
So, Russia
and China, the fact that the leadership in both countries in emphasizing how
this two can become a kind of a steering mechanism, within the five-member
group of BRICS and in many ways set the agenda is undeniable. In India, we
welcome the fact that Russia is there because it also helps us to overcome any
concerns that China will somehow be the only dominant player. Russia and China
together – it makes a fabulous combination because these two societies are
emerging in a way of leading the pack in terms of the political agenda of this
organization.
RT:
You’re talking about the impact on the world order, but BRICS are described as
an economic group, are you saying they are going to cross to the political line
and have influence on the world diplomatic agenda?
SC: The
BRICS represents 43 per cent of the world’s population. This is a huge chunk
and they need a political change. People – and not only in the BRICS member
countries, put peoples of the rest of the global South – are expecting change
and this can’t happen without the political agenda be it in Syria, be it in
Egypt, be it in Africa. We need to create multi-polarity. Multi-polarity is a
political project. The economic vehicles, I see them as means for a achieving a
political goal and end point, which is to create a more just and equitable
world order.
RT:
Egypt's also expressed interest in joining the bloc. What would it offer the
group, and how attractive would it be to the current Power Five?
SC: I hope
they’ll eventually join, but right now the size and current state of the
Egyptian economy doesn’t justify it, but eventually it’ll expand because there
are more emerging economies and the more the better because that’s how we
achieve the multi-polarity through multilateralism.
Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me. For further information in details about Russian Travel Russian Individual Travel
ReplyDelete