The BRICS Challenge: Can They Shift Global Power?

How five nations aim to rewrite the rules of global influence.

Author

Philip Saparov
April 08, 2025

Greetings, bold explorer of evolving power dynamics,

In a world shaped by shifting alliances and economic rebalancing, the BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—is striving to challenge Western-dominated institutions and create a new paradigm in global trade, finance, and diplomacy. As the group's influence grows, so too does its potential to reshape the very frameworks that have long governed international relations.

How do these nations plan to alter the global order? What strengths and weaknesses define their approach? And most importantly, how will their rise impact the rest of the world—including your investments, career, or place of residence?

Join us as we explore the BRICS phenomenon—its ambitions, contradictions, and potential impact on our shared future.

Let’s dive in.

With over 40% of the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP, the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—have the numbers. But turning that clout into real influence? That’s the challenge.

🇨🇳 China dominates with its industrial and tech power, driven by initiatives like the Belt and Road. It contributes nearly 70% of BRICS’ GDP and continues to stretch its influence far beyond Asia.

🇮🇳 India is growing even faster, fueled by a booming tech sector and a young, ambitious workforce. As the world’s most populous nation, India’s global impact is only set to increase.

🇷🇺 Russia and 🇧🇷 Brazil rely heavily on natural resources—energy and agriculture. Russia’s lucrative oil exports are vulnerable to geopolitical backlash, while Brazil’s agricultural strength is undercut by political instability.

🇿🇦 South Africa is the smallest of the group but offers strategic access to African markets. However, economic challenges make it difficult to stay competitive within the bloc.

Putting It Into Perspective: BRICS’ economic power is real but uneven. China and India are pulling ahead, while Brazil, Russia, and South Africa risk being left behind. Can they turn their individual strengths into something greater?

💡 Curious Fact: By 2030, BRICS is expected to drive over 50% of global GDP growth, thanks largely to China and India.

The BRICS nations have set their sights on a lofty ambition: creating a financial system that can stand toe-to-toe with the U.S. dollar. With economic power comes a desire for financial independence, and the idea of a BRICS-backed reserve currency has been gaining momentum—especially in response to Western sanctions and global instability.

🇷🇺 Russia has been particularly vocal about breaking away from dollar dependence, driven by sanctions that have frozen billions of its assets. Seeking alternatives, it has pushed for using national currencies in trade within the BRICS framework.

🇨🇳 China, with its growing economic clout, sees an opportunity to promote the yuan as a credible alternative to the dollar. Already, several countries have signed deals to trade directly in yuan, bypassing the U.S. financial system.

🇮🇳 India remains cautious but open to alternatives that could strengthen its global standing. As it continues to expand economically, India’s interest in a BRICS currency lies more in diversification than outright defiance of the dollar.

Putting It Into Perspective: A BRICS currency would face enormous challenges—economic disparities, political rivalries, and distrust. But even the effort to create an alternative is a signal of shifting global dynamics.

💡 Interesting Insight: BRICS nations currently hold about 15% of global foreign exchange reserves—small, but growing as countries diversify away from the U.S. dollar.

BRICS countries are rich in natural resources, and that’s both a blessing and a curse. Their abundant energy reserves and minerals fuel their economies, but reliance on commodities also makes them vulnerable to price swings and geopolitical tensions.

🇷🇺 Russia is the group's energy titan, with vast reserves of oil and natural gas. But its heavy dependence on these resources leaves it exposed to sanctions and volatile global markets—especially as Western countries pivot away from Russian energy.

🇧🇷 Brazil thrives on its agricultural and mineral exports, from soybeans to iron ore. While this makes it a vital supplier to global markets, its economy remains hostage to fluctuating commodity prices and internal political instability.

🇿🇦 South Africa is a key player in platinum and other critical minerals, but economic inequality and high unemployment rates keep it from fully capitalizing on its resources. As demand for rare minerals rises, South Africa’s ability to meet global needs remains uncertain.

Putting It Into Perspective: Resource wealth can boost economies, but it can also hold them back. For BRICS, the challenge is turning natural assets into sustainable growth rather than short-term gains.

💡 Did you know? BRICS nations hold nearly 50% of the world’s known coal reserves and 30% of its oil reserves—a huge but increasingly controversial advantage.

As the global economy shifts toward innovation and knowledge, BRICS nations are racing to strengthen their technological edge. But while some members are surging ahead, others are struggling to keep up.

🇨🇳 China leads the pack by a wide margin, investing heavily in AI, 5G, quantum computing, and digital infrastructure. With more patent filings annually than the rest of BRICS combined, China is setting the pace for technological dominance.

🇮🇳 India is carving out its own tech niche, with a booming IT sector and a vibrant startup ecosystem. Its young workforce and growing digital economy make it a formidable contender in software, fintech, and artificial intelligence.

🇷🇺 Russia excels in defense technology and cybersecurity, but economic sanctions and limited investment in broader tech sectors are holding it back from global leadership.

Putting It Into Perspective: The technological gap between China and the rest of BRICS is widening. Cooperation in research and development could be a game-changer, but national ambitions often get in the way.

💡 Fascinating Tidbit: China now files more international patents annually than the United States, Japan, and Germany—combined.

Beyond economic ambition, BRICS is increasingly positioning itself as a counterbalance to Western-led institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. By creating their own frameworks, they aim to reduce dependence on the West and chart their own course.

🇷🇺 Russia and 🇨🇳 China are the most vocal in their efforts to challenge U.S. influence. From establishing the New Development Bank to advocating for a BRICS-led financial system, their strategy is clear: build alternatives that bypass Western control.

🇮🇳 India plays a more nuanced game, balancing partnerships with the West while engaging with BRICS. Its rivalry with China complicates efforts at deeper cooperation, but shared economic interests keep the dialogue going.

🇿🇦 South Africa sees BRICS as a platform for amplifying its voice on the global stage. It aims to leverage the bloc to attract investment and promote African interests within broader geopolitical discussions.

Putting It Into Perspective: Political unity remains elusive. While Russia and China push for stronger anti-Western stances, India’s cautious diplomacy and South Africa’s regional focus highlight the bloc’s underlying fractures.

💡 Eye-Opening Fact: The New Development Bank, launched in 2014, has already approved over $30 billion in projects, mostly within BRICS countries.

BRICS nations recognize that infrastructure development is key to sustaining growth and enhancing global influence. Massive investments in transportation, energy, and digital infrastructure are reshaping their economic landscapes and connectivity.

🇨🇳 China leads the way with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure project spanning Asia, Africa, and Europe. Through railways, ports, and energy projects, China is not only boosting trade but also extending its geopolitical reach.

🇮🇳 India is scaling up its infrastructure investments, focusing on expanding rail networks, highways, and smart cities. Its Gati Shakti initiative aims to improve logistics and streamline supply chains, enhancing both domestic growth and international trade links.

🇷🇺 Russia has concentrated on energy infrastructure, building pipelines and expanding its power grid to strengthen economic ties with Europe and Asia. Despite sanctions and economic pressures, Russia continues to invest heavily in strategic infrastructure projects.

Putting It Into Perspective: Infrastructure development is a shared priority for BRICS, but coordination remains limited. As each nation pursues its own ambitious projects, opportunities for collaboration—and competition—will shape their collective influence.

💡 Did you know? China’s Belt and Road Initiative now involves more than 140 countries, accounting for over 60% of the world's population and 30% of global GDP.

As BRICS continues to gain prominence, the big question remains: Can these nations truly reshape the global order, or will internal differences hold them back? The group’s ambitions are bold, but success hinges on overcoming deep-rooted challenges.

🇨🇳 China is pushing hardest for BRICS to be a counterbalance to Western dominance. Its economic weight and ambitious infrastructure projects like the Belt and Road Initiative give it outsized influence within the bloc.

🇮🇳 India seeks to enhance its global stature through BRICS but remains wary of China’s dominance. With its own rapidly growing economy and strategic ties to the West, India often walks a delicate line between collaboration and competition.

🌐 The Collective Challenge lies in their ability to align goals. Diverse political systems, economic structures, and competing priorities make true cohesion difficult. Yet, with plans for expanded membership and alternative financial frameworks, BRICS continues to evolve.

Putting It Into Perspective: BRICS is at a crossroads. Will it emerge as a transformative force capable of reshaping global systems, or will it remain a loosely connected group of powerful nations with conflicting interests?

💡 Intriguing Projection: BRICS is considering expanding its membership, with countries like Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia expressing interest—potentially increasing its economic and geopolitical clout.

As the world’s power dynamics keep shifting, BRICS is like a bold experiment with everything on the line. Whether they pull it off or fall short, whatever they do is bound to make waves across the globe.

Stay informed, stay curious, and continue exploring the evolving landscape of global influence.

Warm regards,
Shane Fulmer
Founder, WorldPopulationReview.com