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http://interaffairs.ru
Author : A. Biryukov
Associate Professor, Russian New University, doctoral candidate, Moscow State Institute (University) of
International Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Science
(History)
TEN YEARS have passed since Russia initiated the BRICS project
in 2006.
The first three years were devoted to analysis, detailed work on key
points of the project, finding out the views of participant nations,
and organizational procedures.
At a summit in Sanya, China, in 2011, South Africa joined BRICS on
a consensus basis. Hence BRICS is now represented on four conti-
nents. But there have been no less important structural and proce-
dural changes within BRICS, which has moved from the dialogue
format and the coordination of positions on key international issues
to an interstate association and a broader sphere of dialogue, coop-
eration, and partnership.
As a result, BRICS has become a global forum of a new generation and a highly important step
toward a multipolar world order. BRICS brings together 45% of the world population, including
three billion consumers living on one third of the globe's land surface.
BRICS' executive system includes an expert group on trade and economy, working groups on
information and communications technology (ICT), information security, healthcare, agriculture,
science, and technology, and a consortium of research centers. BRICS is looking for more effi-
cient cooperation formats all the time. It has, for example, set up a virtual secretariat.
All the member countries, but primarily Russia and China, intensively develop space-related in-
dustries and are engaged in space research whose results are used in practically all economic sec-
tors. Russia retains its status of one of the world's leaders in space exploration.
As energy, agriculture is one of the most vital industries, and so it is human well-being that is
behind the BRICS countries' attention to agriculture.
Humanitarian technology could be an important field of innovation for BRICS. There can be a
bunch of reasons for BRICS to focus on this aspect of the sixth technological revolution. Cog-
nitive and psychological conflicts are an increasingly serious global problem.
BRICS in a Multipolar World: From Technological Asymmetry to
Catchup and Breakthroughs