BRICS A New Era!
BRICS today is a reality, despite contradictions among its
partners, some even irreconcilable in the present International scenario! After
its inception, it has become powerful economically, at least in its projection,
even though it failed to help each other in one of the longest recession.
Politically it has failed so far to project its might vis-à-vis US and its
allies due some of its member’s weaknesses towards the USA, especially from
India and partially by South Africa. Another 3 countries have shown their
resilience for independent Sovereign policy, like Brazil, who is part of
UNASUR, showed its anger against the USA PRISM, the criminal spying when its
President rebuffed Obama openly where as India, reacted with its tail in its back!
Russia is just short of declaring war against USA/NATO sponsored terrorism by
Ukraine! China is either too cool or shrewdest partner, of all who is spreading
its wing for more share of the world market!!
BRICS FORMATION
BRIC was formed on 16 June, 2009 and once South Africa
joined in 2010, it became BRICS! Its combined population is 3 Billion and holds
approximately 20 trillion dollars’ worth GDP!
Since its inception, BRICS has marched forward economically
and politically though its political power is undermined by Indian Governments’
covert and overt support of US and allies. Not only GOI supports US and its
criminal spying PRISM, but even, Narendra Modi, PM called Snowden a traitor!
Left parties did oppose PRISM, but only to log their opposition to the USA
imperialism and never criticised GOI for denying asylum to Snowden. Only party
to support Snowden was AAP and Arvind Kejriwal!
BRICS CHALLENGES UNIPOLAR WORLD!
When I talked about the International situation above, it
meant a strong unipolar world, though there are contradiction in its unity and
which is widening, but it is fact that to oppose US and its allies militarily,
no one yet dares. Syria is the latest example, after Libya where US and allies
were about to declare war openly, but diplomacy of Russia, China, Iran and due
its own vulnerability and opposition by the world citizens deterred the war!
Biggest chink in US/NATO allies surfaced over Ukraine where
Germany and France preferred to continue bilateral trade with Russia, rather
join US’s sponsored sanctions against Russia! Are these signs of US Empire
crumbling?
It would not be out of context to mention that the world
citizens are more conscious today politically than ever in the recent past due
the longest recession in its history of 200 years! Workers, peasants, common
man from EU, US, UNASUR, many countries of Asia led by Bangladesh and even some
AU have been rising more than economical demand than for political goal, even
asking for their right in governance! The last part is evident by the
implementation of SC’s verdict against convicted law makers in India due
people’s resistance against its liquidation!
Coming back to BRICS, we must see its gains in recent past
to understand its value in global politics!
From BRICS information centre:-
While the concept “BRICS” was first created by Jim O’Neill
Goldman Sachs to refer to the investment opportunities of the rising emerging
economies, the leaders’ meetings transcend the financial context to embrace a
wide range of summit-level issues relating to global governance, such as
development, peace and security, energy and climate change, and social issues.
This speaks volume of its march forward from simple economic
forum to a formidable political entity! Economically, aim to have a development
bank worth more than 4.5 trillion USD is a landmark outside World and Asian
bank, which concerns us! Now they succeeded in forming 100 Billion USD worth
Development Bank and same amount of Currency Reserve in 2014 BRICS meet in
Brazil!!
BRICS assertion on International arena could have been more
assertive on grounding of Bolivian airplane carrying President on suspicion of
carrying Snowden but it chose to maintain silence, though Brazil part of UNASUR
was vocal and joined its brother nations to denounce US and its hegemonic
policy.
Media Note on the Meeting of BRICS, 2013 Foreign Ministers
On September 26,
2013, in New York foreign minister issued a communique for Syrian peace, Middle
East peace process, Cyber Security in the back drop of Snowden’s exposure of
NSA of US. Yes the entire communique sounded like that of some NGO’s statement,
yet as far as BRICS was concerned there was some progress!
BRICS Own Internet
Meanwhile, BRICS
companies are working to create a "new Internet".
In particular, Brazil has been reported to be building a
"BRICS cable" that will create an independent link between Brazil,
South Africa, India, China and Russia, in order to bypass NSA cables and avoid
being spied.
The cable is set to go from the Brazilian town of Fortaleza
to the Russian town of Vladivostok via Cape Town, Chennai and Shantou.
The length of the fibre-optic cable will be almost 35,000
kilometres, making it one of the most ambitious underwater telecom projects
ever attempted.
Earlier, most of the BRICS countries joined talks to hammer
out a UN resolution that would condemn “indiscriminate” and “extra-territorial”
surveillance, and ensure “independent oversight” of electronic monitoring.
Will Indian Government of Congress or BJP follow? It’s
doubtful, but people’s unity for an independent foreign policy may force it to
do so! Was there any talk on this issue in today’s BRICS meet, 2014?
Recent incidents of Crimea referendum to secede from Ukraine
and join Russia was the biggest event on an international level in recent
times, where the USA and the allied sanctioned Russia on many fronts including
throwing it out of G-20! India supported Russia, may be due its past of merging
Sikkim into itself, though on different ground, but it’s a very positive move
towards strengthening BRICS and re-creation of bi-polar world!
Incidentally, this Crimea incident has started beginning of
a new world order that is the end of uni-polar to bi-polar or even the multi
polar world. Here Russia seems to be more inclined to China and less to India
due latter’s economic weakness and foreign policy. We need to be with Russia to
hope for a better future for ourselves and BRICS.
FUTURE of BRICS
Economic plan of BRICS is clear, which is to participate
vigorously in redistribution in the world market. This is evident by Chinese
“intrusion” in African market followed by India, Brazil where USA, France and
other European countries are finding it difficult to maintain their earlier
level of profit even militarily. Russia
after disintegration of the USSR is trying to recover some of its lost glory,
which again is very difficult due to its internal problem of unemployment,
racists view against settlers, undemocratic laws against its own populations,
etc., and it effects on its foreign policy with multiplied force, though
Russians are more united presently with their government on Ukraine issue!
The USA and allies are aware of the pressure of BRICS
economically, but the longest recession and their internal fight for share in
the world market with their own EU partners has weakened them enough and cannot
stop the other international players.
It will not be
wrong to say that the members of BRICS, who individually failed to garner
market, are united to assert their capabilities to produce commodities, finance
capital and sell it in the established Imperialists’ den!
Economy is base of Politics and as we have seen above, BRICS
though weak politically, but has started asserting its presence at various
forums. Syria is the example, where its interference was must to break US and
allies grand strategy of capturing the entire oil producing Middle East and
Arab countries.
Finally, I must not lengthen this article, but still say
that the economic base of BRICS will also usher a new cultural and social base
of its countries and will positively affect their political and military
strength and global reach. Hope India after new government will have some pride
in itself and will be able to assert her sovereignty and better economy like
China and make BRICS stronger and not far behind G8 and G20!
People of India, especially youths, are not much interested
in international affairs, let alone be BRICS. However, many young men, whom I
came across, while canvassing in the election and now, were not only aware of
the existence of BRICS but also very hopeful of its future and showed their
desire to take Iran in its fold!!
