The BRICS: A changing world order
or an irrelevancy?
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The BRICS just had their 17th summit with 10 member nations, 9 partner nations and another 18 nations and several global institutions present. Looks important, but is it? The BRICS was created in 2009 as an informal grouping of four emerging economies to act as a counter-weight to the Western-dominated world order, both politically and economically. The establishment of this grouping represents the reality that, although the U.S. and EU are still the biggest global actors, they no longer represent, and never have represented, the interests of “the rest”. Quite the contrary. Also, starting in 1990, emerging economies have grown hugely in scale and importance. The BRICS was created to leverage this importance and get out from under Western, particularly U.S. , domination. Donald Trump throws the BRICS into a new light, both threatening and strengthening their hand.
The big question is whether the BRICS can really shift the global balance of power and what that would mean. Can the U.S./Trump prevent the grouping’s rise? Should we in Canada welcome or fear the BRICS? Can 10 BRICS countries, representing 40% of global GDP and 46% of global population, represent the developing world at large? Are the BRICS “real” or just a PR exercise without any real strategic relevance?
Moderator: John & Pat Simke
Dates and Time: September 26, October 3 and 10, 2-4PM
Venue: VC 206, Victoria College at 91 Charles Street West, Toronto, Ontario
Cost: $39 (incudes HST of $4.49)
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