The communique of the 17th BRICS summit signals a strategic evolution in the tone and tonality of the now-expanded membership. That collective solidarity can serve as a foundation towards reconfiguring the world economic order is amply evident.  What, thus, emerges is a quiet geopolitical revolution. One that is challenging and redefining the traditional economic core and peripheral dynamics of the global economic system. Where non-aligned South-South collaborative framework nurtures the idea of a reformed global economic governance structure. 

A structure which is reflective of a peaceful, equitable, accountable, and democratic global system. A structure which is built upon, as stated in the communique, three core pillars of (1) political & security; (2) economic & financial; and (3) cultural and people-to-people cooperation.

A Critical Overview of the BRICS Communique

Bold in its vision and renewed in its vigour, the BRICS communique aligns with present-day geopolitical and geoeconomic realities from the ascent of a multipolar world. Particularly, emphasizing the instrumental role of the Global South, and the need to amplify the voice of the Global South. For example, under the overarching goal of the three principles, the communique acknowledges the emergence of new productive factors and forces. And the opportunities and challenges stemming from the integration of these new forces and factors into national economic developmental strategies. To achieve the right balance between the opportunities and challenges, the communique, therefore, calls upon the global community, thus driving collective efforts to reform existing multilateral institutions. Simultaneously, proposing inclusive dialogue and consultation to design global governance frameworks to mitigate potential systemic economic risks for all the countries, including those of the Global South.

Yet, the elements of the three principles downplay the essence and mechanism required to achieve the envisaged objective of these pillars. For example, the communique recognizes that in a world with a deepening divide, encouraging greater people-to-people exchanges is imperative. And one way to do so is by actively promoting collaboration across educational institutes amongst BRICS countries. Identifying the youth as a driving force, the BRICS communique proposes tapping into and harnessing youth-driven human capital. For example, implementing policies that advance and expand access to technical and vocational education and training among the youth.

The intention postulated by the BRICS communique is noteworthy. However, one of the major barriers to fostering deeper educational cooperations and exchanges with the youth lies in the fact that academic synergies between BRICS member states remain elusive. For example, the Johannesburg II Declaration in 2023 “support the principle of facilitating mutual recognition of academic qualifications amongst BRICS countries to ensure mobility of skilled professionals, academics, and students and recognition of qualifications obtained in each other's countries subject to compliance of applicable domestic laws.” Yet, progress on this front has been slow and remains a work-in-progress. Recent initiatives have primarily focussed on sharing experience about how each member validates foreign academic credentials, rather than designing and implementing a framework mechanism to facilitate member state degree recognition.

Alternative mechanisms have also fallen short in enabling and facilitating international educational cooperation. For instance, despite its potential, the BRICS Network University has not fully actualized its role in addressing structural barriers and narrowing the educational gap between member states. Likewise, progress on dyadic educational cooperation between BRICS members has been insufficient to gain meaningful traction. For example, mutual degree recognition between Indian and Chinese educational institutions is still a work-in-progress, limiting student academic mobility. Further exacerbating this challenge is the strained bilateral relationship between India and China which has led to a decline in financial and non-financial resources to propel stalled educational engagements between the two nations. For example, vocational training initiatives such as the Luban workshops remain in limbo. With the intention of accelerating the “Study in India” programme, India’s efforts to pursue mutual recognition of academic degrees with several BRICS members has also largely remained on paper.

Way Forward

In line with its commitment to enabling and facilitating people-to-people cooperation, BRICS should adopt a long-term goal of creating a Brain Circulatory Network (BCN) amongst member states. The circuit would serve both as a knowledge hub and as a conduit for the transfer of knowledge - not only between the BRICS membership but also other Global South nations whose developmental trajectories intersect with those of the BRICS. Knowledge exchange and learning from within the Global South, and be transformatively deployed for the Global South by adapting to the local needs of the Global South. This would enable dynamic continuous multi-directional knowledge flow essential for establishing collective intellectual prowess in the Global South.  

For the long-term goal, steps in the short- and medium-term have to be small and measured. More so because of the heterogeneous socio-economic developmental experiences across BRICS membership. Initial short- and medium- term steps, therefore, could focus on designing and deploying low-risk initiatives at the intersection of non-sensitive yet strategically aligned sectors including education, culture and the youth. Accordingly, efforts could be directed in designing BRICS-lateral youth mobility initiatives such as short-term academic study missions and exchange programs encompassing cultural immersions rooted in experiential learning. These efforts will help overcome academic synergistic barriers as well as advocate neutral educational diplomacy. Moreover, enhanced international educational cooperations would further open doors for the internationalisation of the educational sector facilitating collective advancement of the Global South.

Conclusion

Global welfare maximisation can only be optimized through mutuality. And people-to-people exchanges are the key to mutual learning, understanding and trust -  all essential elements for building mutually beneficial cooperations. Knowledge circulation can be thought of as that foundational strategic infrastructure, economically imperative for a resilient and sustainable development model. Repositioning itself as a “strategic project, grounded in multipolarity, inclusion and self-determination of the peoples”, BRICS indeed can serve as that platform asserting the collective voice of the Global South.