In the Run-Up to the BRICS+ Summit: Russia’s BRICS+ Soft Power Diplomacy
As the world eagerly awaits the upcoming BRICS+ summit in Kazan, Russia has been ramping up its efforts to showcase its global influence and counter Western attempts to isolate it. Amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russia is leveraging the BRICS+ framework to bolster its soft power diplomacy, targeting countries in the Global South through initiatives in the realms of fashion and sport.
BRICS+ Summit Preparations
The BRICS+ summit, scheduled for October 2024, will bring together the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and a host of new members, including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. This expansion of the BRICS alliance is a crucial development for Russia, as it provides a platform to engage with a diverse group of nations and present itself as a legitimate actor on the global stage.
Russia’s BRICS+ Diplomatic Initiatives
In the run-up to the summit, Russia has been actively employing soft power strategies to increase its perceived legitimacy and ensure decision-making that aligns with its own interests. This can be observed in the areas of fashion and sport, where Russia has organized high-profile events to showcase its cultural and ideological influence.
Soft Power Strategies within BRICS+
The BRICS+ Fashion Summit, held in Moscow in 2023, brought together fashion industry actors from across the BRICS+ nations to discuss their role in the global market. This event provided a platform for Russian designers and brands to collaborate with their counterparts from the Global South, while also propagating narratives of cultural sensitivity and an anti-colonial perspective. By highlighting the perceived dominance of Western fashion, Russia positioned itself as a champion of diverse and locally rooted fashion identities.
Similarly, Russia has sought to leverage the BRICS+ Games, a multi-sport event organized for the first time in 2017, as an alternative to the Paris Olympics and the UEFA European Football Championship. While the 2024 edition of the BRICS+ Games faced challenges in attracting widespread participation and attention, Russia’s efforts to portray itself as a victim of global sporting bodies have resonated with some non-Western audiences.
Geopolitical Implications of BRICS+ Diplomacy
Russia’s soft power initiatives within the BRICS+ framework underscore its broader strategy to counter Western isolation and present itself as a legitimate actor in the eyes of the “world majority” – a term used by Russia to refer to countries in the Global South that maintain diplomatic and trade relations with Moscow.
By positioning itself as an anti-colonial force and championing the interests of former colonies, Russia aims to gain political leverage and shape the agenda of the BRICS+ bloc. This, in turn, could have significant implications for global governance, particularly in areas such as space cooperation and the ongoing discussions around space security within the United Nations.
The Evolving BRICS+ Framework
Expanding Membership and Cooperation
The BRICS+ alliance has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with the addition of new members and the expansion of its scope beyond the initial economic focus. The inclusion of Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia has broadened the geopolitical and economic diversity of the group, presenting both challenges and opportunities for Russia’s diplomatic maneuvering.
Institutional Development of BRICS+
As the BRICS+ framework evolves, the development of its institutional mechanisms and decision-making processes will be crucial in determining the role and influence of Russia within the alliance. The strengthening of BRICS+ as an international organization could provide Russia with a platform to amplify its voice and shape the agenda, particularly in areas where it seeks to counter Western dominance.
Economic and Financial Coordination
The BRICS+ alliance has also been exploring avenues for deeper economic and financial coordination, including the potential expansion of the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement. Russia’s ability to leverage these mechanisms to circumvent Western sanctions and maintain its economic ties with the Global South will be a key factor in its overall soft power strategy.
Soft Power Dimensions of BRICS+
Cultural and Educational Exchanges
Beyond the realms of fashion and sport, Russia has sought to enhance its soft power within the BRICS+ framework through initiatives focused on cultural and educational exchanges. These efforts aim to foster a sense of shared identity and values among the member states, while also projecting Russia as a center of cultural influence.
Development Assistance and Partnerships
Russia’s soft power diplomacy within BRICS+ also extends to the realm of development assistance and partnerships. By positioning itself as a champion of the Global South and offering aid and investment opportunities, Russia seeks to strengthen its ties with BRICS+ countries and present an alternative to Western-led development models.
Multilateral Cooperation Mechanisms
The BRICS+ alliance has also provided a platform for Russia to explore multilateral cooperation mechanisms, such as the BRICS+ Joint Committee on Space Cooperation. These initiatives, while not always successful in their immediate implementation, hold the potential to enhance Russia’s soft power influence and challenge Western-led norms in the international arena.
Challenges and Criticisms of BRICS+ Soft Power
Concerns over Transparency and Inclusivity
As Russia’s soft power diplomacy within the BRICS+ framework evolves, concerns have been raised over the transparency and inclusivity of the alliance’s decision-making processes. The perceived dominance of Russia and China within the group has led to questions about the representation and agency of smaller member states.
Balancing Interests within BRICS+
Maintaining a delicate balance of interests among the diverse BRICS+ member states will be a crucial challenge for Russia’s soft power diplomacy. The alliance’s heterogeneous nature, with countries at different stages of economic development and varying geopolitical alignments, could complicate Russia’s efforts to present a unified front.
Perceptions of Russian Influence
Russia’s attempts to leverage the BRICS+ framework for its soft power objectives have also faced criticism, with concerns raised about the extent of its influence and the potential for the alliance to be perceived as a vehicle for Russian interests rather than a genuine multilateral platform.
As the world eagerly awaits the upcoming BRICS+ summit in Kazan, the unfolding of Russia’s soft power diplomacy within this evolving framework will be a crucial factor in shaping the geopolitical dynamics of the 21st century. The interplay of economic, cultural, and institutional dimensions within BRICS+ will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the global order.
