Conference Program

The BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) is part of the transformation of the international order, shifting power from the 'global North' to the 'global South' encompassing a loose group of around 100 countries, many of which are developing and not linked to any major power. However, most are still largely marginalised in terms of global decision-making, so the BRICS is seeking to create a 'more inclusive' international order that aims to realise a 'new era' of international relations, in line with the narrative of the People's Republic of China, which is driving the change. Looking for the essence of the changes taking place in the international system, we should pay particular attention to the 15th summit of the BRICS group, held in South Africa from 22-24 August 2023 in Johannesburg, as it was then decided to admit as many as six new states with the beginning of 2024, of which only Argentina refused due to the emergence of a new president. All indications are that this is only the beginning of the expansion of a group that is emblematic of the emerging multipolar world.

As the world undergoes rapid geopolitical and geoeconomic changes, the position of China within the BRICS has become increasingly pivotal. In a world characterized by growing instability and Western weakness, it is crucial to understand the extent to which China can effectively coordinate and align the interests of BRICS members, transforming the current group into a shared goals-oriented alliance positioned as a credible alternative to existing cooperation frameworks.This paper aims to examine China's role within the BRICS by focusing on its potential leadership in shaping the group's collective agenda. Concretely, the paper will explore several factors which might facilitate or hinder China's ability to align the group's agenda with some of its strategic interests. Special attention will be given to initiatives such as the New Development Bank, the Contingent Reserve Arrangement and the Global Security Initiative. Such analysis can shed light on the dynamics of cooperation and competition among the group members and the potential limits China faces when trying to promote its preferences. Lastly, the paper will conclude with future geopolitical and geoeconomic implications of China's growing role within BRICS.

The 2024 World International Studies Committee (WISC) global conference aims to explore the dynamics of international relations in a rapidly changing world, with a focus on the theme "Sovereignty, Hierarchy and Security in a Shared New World Order". This article will analyze the contradictions evident in the BRICS coalition, focusing on key aspects that emerged from the conference panels. It will be examined whether the BRICS Plus initiative, proposed by Xi Jinping in 2017, actually promotes beneficial cooperation and common development among the group's members and emerging nations. We will also discuss BRICS' challenges in consolidating unity among ten countries with economic, geographic and democratic differences. The article will question the BRICS' maintenance of the spirit of Bandung, evaluating their commitment to South-South cooperation and greater representation of Southern countries in international institutions. By analyzing the role of China, with its control of crucial financial institutions, possible influences on coalition cohesion will be explored. Finally, the article will reflect on the economic and political future of BRICS, considering the expansion into the G20 and the role of new resource-rich members, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that arise for the coalition in the context of a reform of the UN system and support for China's proposed 'Global Security Initiative'.