The BRICS Studies: Theories and Issues

Description

Given their immense potential for development and representation of a new international political and economic order, the BRICS countries have become a strong nascent force on the global stage. However, as overall economic growth continues to slow down, and the geopolitical situation becomes more complex, the BRICS countries are facing a series of new challenges that require further development in the way they cooperate with one another. This volume offers a panoramic view of cooperation between the BRICS countries in the light of these new challenges. The editors reveal that policy coordination has been strengthened, bringing into play complementary advantages as viable ways for promoting robust, sustainable, and balanced growth in the world economy. They argue that the experience gained, and lessons learned in the development of and cooperation between the BRICS countries has offered a positive role model for cooperation between other countries as well as providing valuable lessons for research in international politics. Students and scholars in international relations and politics will benefit from this volume. Cover Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of contents Figures Tables Contributors Preface Acknowledgements 1 The BRICS studies: Academic approach and frontier issues 1. New trend of BRICS’s development and cooperation 1.1 A continuous rise in economic strength but with differentiated economic growth 1.2 New breakthroughs achieved in pragmatic cooperation in spite of growing challenges 2. Academic approaches to BRICS studies 2.1 Study objects: from “country-specific study”, to “trans-regional cooperation” and “global governance” 2.2 Study perspectives: from “economics” to “international political economics” 2.3 Study fields: from investment to multi-fields 2.4 Study paths: from “policy studies” and “strategic analysis” to “approach discussions” 2.5 Study levels: From “physical level” to “institutional and idea levels” 3. Main topics of current academic contentions 3.1 Driving force of the BRICS: weakened or strengthened? 3.2 Orientation of the BRICS: economic partners or political allies? 3.3 Mechanism of the BRICS: informal or formal? 3.4 Membership of the BRICS: open or exclusive? 3.5 Functions of the BRICS: constructive or alternative? 4. Conclusion Notes 2 Non-neutrality of international regimes and the BRICS cooperation 1. Multilayered BRICS cooperative mechanism 1.1 Bilateral and multilateral cooperative mechanisms 1.2 The institutionalization of the BRICS cooperation 2. Non-neutrality of international regimes and BRICS’s demand for interests 2.1 Non-neutrality of global governance due to the non-neutrality of international regimes 2.2 Vested-interest groups in global governance 2.3 The BRICS’s interest appeals in global governance 3. Inclusive interests and the BRICS cooperation 3.1 Non-zero-sum game and inclusive interests in the global economy 3.2 BRICS cooperation for inclusive interests 3.3 New role of the BRICS mechanism in global governance 4. Conclusion Notes 3 Theoretical explanations for the origin of BRICS cooperation 1. Origin of BRICS cooperation: theories, variables, and explanations 1.1 Theories on the origin of cooperation 1.2 Different variables for explaining the origin of BRICS cooperation 1.3 Mechanisms of action for the origin of BRICS cooperation 2. Theoretical explanations for the origin of BRICS cooperation 2.1 Theoretical explanation 1 2.1.1 Exogenous functional factors and the systematic payoff structure 2.1.2 Endogenous functional factors and their individual payoff structure 2.2 Theoretical explanation II 2.2.1 Exogenous normative factors and their future impacts 2.2.2 Endogenous consensus factors and their future impacts 3. Conclusion Notes 4 BRICS cooperation in the game of countries 1. Global landscape 2. Western countries’ strategic options for the BRICS cooperation 3. BRICS countries’ consideration for cooperation and their interaction 3.1 China 3.2 Russia 3.3 India 3.4 Brazil 3.5 South Africa 4. Conclusion Notes 5 International structure and the BRICS cooperation 1. Structural realism and BRICS mechanism 1.1 Theory of structural realism 1.2 The BRICS countries and the BRICS cooperation mechanism 2. Current situation and potential of BRICS cooperation 3. Structural competition among the BRICS countries 4. Conclusion Notes 6 Practice theory and China’s participation in BRICS cooperation 1. Participation practice, consensus reaching and new identity establishment 2. China’s participation practice and consensus-reaching in the early stage of the BRICS mechanism 2.1 Practical resources for China’s participation in the BRICS mechanism 2.2 Types of Chinese participation practice at the beginning of the BRICS mechanism 2.3 Consensus-reaching at the beginning of the BRICS mechanism 3. Important practices by China in the development of the BRICS mechanism 3.1 Innovation practice, alliance practice and institutionalized consensus for collaboration during the first summit 3.2 Innovation practice, alliance practice and consensus on action during the third summit 3.3 Innovation practice, alliance practice and substantialized consensus during the sixth summit 4. Identity shift of China’s participation and international influence 4.1 BRICS mechanism confirms China’s new collective identity 4.2 Influence of China’s new identity on the international development 5. Conclusion Notes 7 The BRICS countries and global economic governance 1. The rise of emerging countries and establishment of the BRICS cooperative mechanism 1.1 Collective rise of the emerging economies 1.2 Legitimacy crisis of the current global economic governance system 1.3 Establishment of the BRICS cooperation mechanism and its significance 1.4 A new role of the BRICS cooperation mechanism in the global economic governance system 2. The BRICS countries and the change of the global economic governance system 2.1 Challenges for the participation of emerging countries in global economic governance 2.2 The reform of global economic governance system pushed by the BRICS countries 3. The BRICS countries and innovation of the global governance model 3.1 Equal collaboration and sharing of decision-making power 3.2 A partnership featured as mutual benefit and win-win cooperation 3.3 Expansion of open, inclusive and mutually beneficial cooperation 3.4 Active exploration for governances in emerging areas 4. Conclusion Notes 8 The BRICS countries and the global financial governance 1. Relationship between the BRICS countries and global financial governance 1.1 What is global financial governance? 1.2 How to interpret the relationship between the BRICS countries and global financial governance? 2. Current situations, difficulties and feasible paths for the BRICS countries to participate in global financial governance 3. China’s stance and countermeasures 4. Conclusion Notes 9 Construction of free trade zones in the BRICS countries 1. FTZ development strategies of the BRICS countries 1.1 Brazil’s FTZ development strategy 1.2 Russia’s FTZ development strategy 1.3 India’s FTZ development strategy 1.4 China’s FTZ development strategy 1.5 South Africa’s FTZ development strategy 2. Common interests and conflicts of interest among the FTZ development strategies of the BRICS countries 2.1 Common interests 2.2 Conflicts of interest 3. Directions and paths for interest coordination of the FTZ development strategies of the BRICS countries 3.1 Conducting evaluation on the common interests of the BRICS countries in economics and trade and joint research on ... 3.2 Identifying and analysing the conflicts of interest among the BRICS countries in economics and trade 3.3 Establishing mechanisms for the distribution and coordination of economic and trade interests among the BRICS countries 3.4 Advocating the establishment of FTZs among the BRICS countries to expand economic and trade cooperation, ... 4. Conclusion Notes 10 The BRICS countries and new international direct investment rules 1. The growth of FDI from the BRICS countries 1.1 The stock of bilateral investment expands rapidly 1.2 Overseas direct investment grows exponentially 1.3 Cross-border M&As of the BRICS countries vary greatly 1.4 SOEs actively participate in cross-border M&A activities 2. BRICS multinationals and “state-controlled entities” 3. New changes in international direct investment rules 3.1 Problems in international investment governance 3.2 Impact of the existing international investment rules on the BRICS countries 4. Conclusion Notes 11 The BRICS countries and international energy cooperation 1. Energy production and consumption of the BRICS countries 1.1 Energy production and consumption of China 1.2 Energy production and consumption of the other BRICS countries 1.2.1 Russia’s economic development and energy balance 1.2.2 India’s energy consumption and economic development 1.2.3 Energy development and investment opportunities in South Africa and Brazil 2. The game of the BRICS countries on energy cooperation 2.1 Status quo of energy cooperation among the BRICS countries 2.2 Game analysis of the BRICS countries on energy cooperation 2.3 Functional expectations for energy cooperation among the BRICS countries 2.3.1 Stabilize Russia-centred energy supply and strengthen medium- and long-term energy strategic security 2.3.2 Promote the overall energy development planning of the BRICS countries and identify their advantages 2.3.3 Promote the complementary development of the energy industry in China and Russia 2.3.4 Promote the value maximization of energy advantages in Brazil, South Africa and India 3. Path for future energy cooperation among the BRICS countries 3.1 Strengthen energy demand management and promote the development and application of new energy technologies 3.2 Promote the establishment of a substantial energy cooperation mechanism among the BRICS countries 3.3 A major direction for future energy development of BRICS countries – new energy 4. Conclusion Notes 12 The BRICS countries and international cooperation on climate change 1. Features of global governance on climate change 2. The exogenous drive of cooperation on climate change 3. The endogenous drive of cooperation on climate change 4. BRICS cooperation on climate change featuring integrated development of finance and energy 5. Conclusion Notes 13 The BRICS countries and global cyberspace governance 1. Principles and features of global cyberspace governance 1.1 Competition for principles of global cyberspace governance 1.2 Asymmetric interdependence: basic feature of global cyberspace governance 2. Opportunities for the BRICS countries and change of global cyberspace governance 2.1 Serious challenges by the US’ aggressive strategy in cyberspace after the PRISM incident 2.2 Rise of the BRICS countries provides important opportunities to modify global cyberspace governance 3. Strategy and policy coordination for the BRICS countries to promote global cyberspace governance 3.1 Options for the BRICS countries to face challenges (II) Promote the construction of the new global cyberspace order 4. Conclusion Notes 14 The BRICS countries and the construction of New Development Bank 1. The origin and development of the New Development Bank 1.1 The origin of the New Development Bank 1.2 Preparation for establishing NDB 2. Strategic significance of the New Development Bank 2.1 Deepening the BRICS cooperation 2.2 A positive role in the reform of international economic governance 2.3 One of China’s major initiatives to actively participate in international economic governance 3. Functions of the New Development Bank 3.1 The functional positioning for infrastructure construction and sustainable development 3.2 Building a new investment and financing platform 4. Conclusion Notes 15 Cooperation among the BRICS countries for developing emerging industries 1. Strategies and policies for developing emerging industries 1.1 Brazil’s strategies and policies for developing emerging industries 1.2 Russia’s strategies and policies for developing emerging industries 1.3 India’s strategies and policies for developing emerging industries 1.4 China’s strategies and policies for developing emerging industries 1.5 South Africa’s strategies and policies for developing emerging industries 2. Comparison among the BRICS countries in the development of emerging industries 2.1 All BRICS countries attach great importance to the development of emerging industries 2.2 The BRICS countries are at different stages in the process of developing emerging industries 2.3 The results of the BRICS countries’ efforts to develop emerging industries are unsatisfactory 2.4 The BRICS countries are not competent enough in creating a business environment favourable for technological ... 3. The basic directions for strengthening cooperation in emerging industries 3.1 Pursuing sci-tech innovation and cooperation in high-tech industries 3.2 Taking advantage of the existing foundation for cooperation (III) Removing the many barriers to cooperation 4. Conclusion References Index