Common and different interests of member countries of the BRICS group

Abstract

The article analyzes the convergent and divergent interests of BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). The results of the analysis allow us to formulate five principles of interaction of interests of BRICS countries: 1) The principle of interests' quality. The analysis arrives at a clear notion of the number of areas of strategic convergence of interests and their quality parameters which exceed those differences. This circumstance is a determining factor in the long term sustainability of the BRICS group; 2) The principle of coinciding and divergent uncoinsiding interests. The outcome of the analysis demonstrates that the common interests of BRICS countries essentially are not related to non coinciding interests. Of greater importance is the ability of BRICS countries to work in such a way so as to not interfere with fragmentary differences unrelated to cooperation on strategic issues; 3) the principle of interests' harmonization. Different interests of BRICS countries (especially tacticalin nature for example, climate issues) can be harmonized within the group. Tactical issues on which agreement is not reached can be discussed within other international institutions in order to avoid BRICS efficiency fallings. With the expansion of cooperation the number of disagreements between the group may increase. In this context an unlimited sovereignty of BRICS countries has an important role. This is so, as when one country is opposed to a collective position there exists no mechanism for the application of collective pressure to be applied, since, BRICS nations highly appreciate national sovereignty; 4) the principle of partial mismatches of declared and real policy. There are differences between the abstract BRICS communiqu regulations and real political decisions of BRICS countries made on several issues; 5) the principle of direct proportion between institutionalization of BRICS and deinstitutionalization of IBSA and RIC. With the expansion of agenda issues of BRICS countries discussions in parallel formats can logically fit into the collective BRICS agenda. As practice shows BRICS countries and parallel formats are compliant, but the agendas can intersect. This fact may contribute to the escalation of mistrust between the group participants in the future.