<https://eotrx.substackcdn.com/open?token=eyJtIjoiPDIwMjMwODI1MjE0NzI3LjMuNDZmOWNkZDBjZjVjYjNkMkBtZy1kMS5zdWJzdGFjay5jb20-IiwidSI6MTMxMTE2MDA3LCJyIjoiYW50aWMubWlyb3NsYXZAZ21haWwuY29tIiwiZCI6Im1nLWQxLnN1YnN0YWNrLmNvbSIsInAiOjEzNjQxMzAzOSwidCI6Im5ld3NsZXR0ZXIiLCJhIjoiZXZlcnlvbmUiLCJzIjozNzEzMDksImMiOiJwb3N0IiwiZiI6dHJ1ZSwicG9zaXRpb24iOiJ0b3AiLCJpYXQiOjE2OTMwMDAwNTUsImV4cCI6MTY5NTU5MjA1NSwiaXNzIjoicHViLTAiLCJzdWIiOiJlbyJ9.QwPf3xmYRxJL4cM-4Eak2z6PiwTtC4BYJFmkZleq8CM>
The expansion of BRICS membership is directly related to the expansion of NATO
and NATO-like alliances around the world. When this statement is read
superficially without understanding what is meant it seems wrong: the two
organizations could not be more dissimilar. The new globalized NATO is a
hierarchical, monolithic, and military alliance. None of the four terms applies
to BRICS. BRICS is non-hierarchical; the members are extremely heterogeneous
and often in political disagreement with each other; BRICS’ objectives are not
military; and it is not an alliance but a mere organization. While two of the
now eleven BRICS members are in open or tacit conflict with the West, the
others are not. BRICS is not a counterweight to the West or NATO. But it is
growing in reaction to NATO’s globalization. Why? Because it is the only place
where nations not interested in participating in the new Cold War, or even in a
possible hot war between the superpowers, can “runaway” in order
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BRICS and non-alignment today
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Branko Milanovic
Aug 25
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The expansion of BRICS membership is directly related to the expansion of NATO
and NATO-like alliances around the world. When this statement is read
superficially without understanding what is meant it seems wrong: the two
organizations could not be more dissimilar. The new globalized NATO is a
hierarchical, monolithic, and military alliance. None of the four terms applies
to BRICS. BRICS is non-hierarchical; the members are extremely heterogeneous
and often in political disagreement with each other; BRICS’ objectives are not
military; and it is not an alliance but a mere organization. While two of the
now eleven BRICS members are in open or tacit conflict with the West, the
others are not. BRICS is not a counterweight to the West or NATO. But it is
growing in reaction to NATO’s globalization. Why? Because it is the only place
where nations not interested in participating in the new Cold War, or even in a
possible hot war between the superpowers, can “runaway” in order not to have to
choose sides.
It is a profound misunderstanding of what BRICS is, to search for commonalities
amongst the members and not having found them to dismiss the organization.
Looking for commonalities at times makes sense—but not always. Let’s go over
some historical precedents. We can think of international political
organizations in positive terms, that is of countries banding together because
they believe in a set of common things (which they might consider values). When
the Nazis created the Anti-Comintern Pact (the Tripartite pact), the
member-countries, spanning two continents, believed in nationalism and fighting
Communism; when NATO was formed in 1949, the member countries believed in
democracy and containment of the Soviet Union; when the Warsaw Pact was formed
in 1955, the member countries believed in expansion of communism, or at least
in defending it over the area it then ruled.
But when the non-alignment movement was formed in the late 1950s and early
1960s (note the dates!), or later the Group 77, the members did not possess a
positive agenda similar to the ones I just listed. Their agenda was negative:
they did not want to have to choose sides in the Cold War waged between the
West and the East. They wanted to stay out of it. Many people failed to
understand the logic of non-alignment, precisely because they failed to
understand that you can create an organization composed of heterogeneous
countries that may disagree on many issues, but find it useful, for
geopolitical reasons, to get together in a loose association. Non-alignment was
liked neither by the Soviet Union nor by the USA. The Soviets believed that it
was superfluous because the USSR was “the natural ally” of the Third World and
decolonization and rather than getting together in a new organization, the
Third World countries should simply support the Soviet bloc. The United States
saw the non-alignment as little better than betrayal: countries who drew the
equivalence between democracy and tyranny. John Lewis Gadis, the US historian
of the Cold War, barely disguises his contempt for the movement and when he
condescends to note it, calls it “the so-called ‘non-alignment’ movement.”
The movement in fact ended with the end of the Cold War. This also shows what
its true role was: to be a buffer zone during the global confrontation between
the US and the Soviet Union, and to minimize the likelihood of their members
becoming the ground on which the proxy wars may be fought. Once that
confrontation ended, there was no room for non-alignment. It was not obvious
what one is non-aligning with anymore.
But now when the contours of a new Cold War are apparent, the need for an
organization grouping countries that do not want to be involved in it (and
including, somewhat incongruously, and for historical reasons, countries that
are in war or conflict with NATO and the West, namely Russia and China) had
naturally re-emerged. Many commentators dismiss the new BRICS because they
dislike the idea of the formerly Third World nations, whose economic importance
has risen, getting together. They fear the grouping will, in some economic
areas like de-dollarization or international infrastructure finance, challenge
Western supremacy. Other, as I mentioned, very wrongly believe that any
grouping must be based on some shared ideas, values, interests, or on hegemonic
pressure. Not finding any of the four among BRICS, they dismiss them. Indeed,
if BRICS could have more in common they would be stronger. But they do not, and
cannot have---for various historical, political or cultural reasons. Yet, the
fact that an increasing number of countries want to join BRICS cannot be
ignored or taken lightly. BRICS’ refusing to participate in new global trade,
proxy or actual wars may make such wars less likely. And BRICS’ economic clout
may help reduce some of the glaring economic imbalances between the rich,
middle-income, and poor nations across the world.
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Comment
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Restack
© 2023 Branko Milanovic
548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104
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