BRICS Expansion: Causes and Consequences

The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) have recently expanded, bringing in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, and Egypt.

What are the implications of the expansion? How should we think about the BRICS and its relationship to the US-led international order? What are the internal contradictions within BRICS? Can such contradictions be overcome? Why these new members? 

This roundtable explores the BRICS expansion -- its causes, consequences, and contradictions – with a group of experts. After brief introductory comments by the speakers, we will open it up for a more general discussion and Q&A with the audience.

Speakers: 

• Cornelia Baciu (Postdoctoral Researcher at the Center for Military Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen)
• Nicole Grajewski (Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)
• Sarang Shidore (Director of the Global South Program, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft)
• Marco Vieira (Associate Prof of International Relations, University of Birmingham) 

Chair and Convenor: Robert Ralston

Contact: r.ralston@bham.ac.uk