Engaging BRICS: Challenges and Opportunities for Civil Society

The emergence of BRICS represents an important change in the global political economy. There is anticipation that the BRICS – building on their own lessons and initiatives – will play a progressive role on economic and social issues at regional and global levels. The critical view  includes doubts about the nature and coherence of the group. There is also concern that the economic agenda of BRICS could pose new challenges to human rights and development, particularly given the absence domestic frameworks for accountability on international engagements.

Despite these concerns, the debate on poverty and inequality is integral to any engagement with the BRICS, given its focus on growth and infrastructure. BRICS-led aid and investment activities are expected to have a significant bearing on issues such as the exploitation of natural resources, land grabs, agriculture and food security across regions. There is a growing awareness that civil society in BRICS countries must build a broader agenda of rights and accountability around the international roles of their government and private sector.

This paper explores ideas and insights for civil society engagement with the BRICS agenda, based largely on interviews held with 34 representatives of the development sector, academia and media within BRICS countries and outside. Forty-four per cent of those interviewed are linked to work with women and socially excluded groups.