The BRICs model developed by Goldman Sachs in its publication, Dreaming With
BRICs: The Path to 2050, has attracted some considerable attention.1 From an economic
perspective, it has enormous attractions in lending attention to four countries (Brazil,
Russia, India, China) that that are dynamic global motors of growth. On the basis of
GDP/Purchasing Power Parity, China (4), India (6), Russia (11) and Brazil (12) all rank
in the top 12.2
Yet, looking beyond material resources to diplomatic logic, the viability of utilizing
this model weakens considerably. For this group is highly differentiated in terms of
their positioning in the international arena. It contains two members of the Permanent
5 (P5) of the Security Council within the United Nations system (UNSC), one entrant
into the Group of G8, and two traditional champions of the global South as expressed
through the G77 and other forums.
