BRICS summit review

So this week was the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia. I get asked about BRICS at least once a week and I always preface my answer with the point that I’m a skeptic. It is under-institutionalized with serious divergences in interests and orientations between its members. It's value seems to be airing grievances at this point, or giving leaders like Putin or the Iranians an opportunity to look less isolated. In short, I don't see much holding it together as a grouping, and talk of it leading alternative global governance structures is incredibly premature.

After the summit ended a Western diplomat pointed out “weaker members are going to start complaining they have no mechanism to influence the direction of the group unless they’re hosts (or there’s a charter/secretariat).” I think that holds - the really seemed to be a chance for Putin to look like a statesman and for China to point out what it doesn’t like about the West. We’ll see if any of the working groups lead to anything tangible or if any of the new members or participants buy in. For now, here are some of the things I’ve been reading post-summit.