ASSESSMENT OF BRICS+5 ENLARGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS

Abstract

The term “BRICS” is an acronym for the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. This term was first used in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O’Neill as “BRIC”. The group, which was renamed BRICS when South Africa joined in 2011, aims to promote economic cooperation between the member countries and strengthen their economic and political position in the world. The BRICS group's prominence on the international stage in a short space of time has led developing countries to see this organization as a new alternative for creating a fairer world. The BRICS countries, which have held regular summits every year since their inception, have undertaken various activities to be better represented on the international stage, deepen cooperation, create new institutions for better governance and strengthen communication channels. At the most recent 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, the BRICS grouping, at the crossroads between deepening ties and institutionalization and opening up, opted for opening up, incorporating a total of five new countries (Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia) by 2024. The inclusion of the new members in the bloc has been controversial in many ways, and the transformation of the BRICS into the BRICS+5 format has brought various interpretations to the agenda regarding the future of the bloc. This study aims to examine the opportunities and threats that BRICS+5 enlargement will bring to the bloc’s aspirations. Since there is a need for discussions and analyses aiming to interpret the BRICS+5 expansion from the organization's perspective, this study is expected to contribute to the literature.

Keywords

• BRICS+5 Enlargement
• Johannesburg Summit
• Global South
• Rising Powers

BRICS+5 Genişlemesinin Yaratacağı Fırsat ve Tehditler Bağlamında Değerlendirilmesi

Öz

“BRICS” tabiri gelişmekte olan Brezilya, Rusya, Hindistan, Çin ve Güney Afrika ulusal ekonomilerini ifade eden bir kısaltmadır. Söz konusu terim ilk olarak 2001 yılında Goldman Sachs ekonomisti Jim O’Neill tarafından “BRIC” olarak kullanılmıştır. 2011 yılında Güney Afrika’nın katılımıyla BRICS adını alan grup, üye ülkeler arasında ekonomik iş birliğini ilerletmeyi ve ülkelerin dünyadaki ekonomik ve siyasi konumlarını arttırmayı amaçlamaktadır. BRICS grubunun uluslararası alanda kısa süre içerisinde ön plana çıkması, bu örgütün gelişmekte olan ülkelerce daha adil bir dünya yaratılması hususunda yeni bir alternatif olarak değerlendirilmesine neden olmuştur. Oluşturulduğu yıldan bugüne her yıl düzenli şekilde zirveler gerçekleştiren BRICS ülkeleri, söz konusu zirvelerde uluslararası arenada daha iyi temsil edilebilmek, iş birliğini derinleştirmek, daha iyi yönetişim amacıyla yeni kurumlar tesis etmek ve iletişim kanallarını güçlendirmek amacıyla çeşitli çalışmalar yapmaktalardır. BRICS grubu, en son Güney Afrika’nın Johannesburg kentinde gerçekleştirdiği 15. BRICS Zirvesi’nde bağları derinleştirmek ve kurumsallaşmak ile dışa açılmak arasındaki yol ayrımında genişlemeyi tercih ederek 2024 itibariyle toplam beş yeni ülkeyi (Mısır, İran, Etiyopya, Birleşik Arap Emirlikleri ve Suudi Arabistan) bünyesine katmıştır. Yeni üyelerin bloğa dâhil oluşu pek çok yönden tartışma yaratmış ve BRICS’in BRICS+5 formatına dönüşümü bloğun geleceği açısından çeşitli yorumları da gündeme getirmiştir. Bu çalışma, BRICS+5 genişlemesinin bloğun ulaşmak istediği hedefler doğrultusunda yaratacağı fırsat ve tehditleri incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. BRICS+5 genişlemesini örgüte bakan yönüyle yorumlamayı amaçlayan tartışma ve analizlere ihtiyaç duyulması sebebiyle çalışmanın literatüre katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• BRICS+5 Genişlemesi
• Johannesburg Zirvesi
• Küresel Güney
• Yükselen Güçler

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