Eis as considerações, todas ponderadas e razoáveis, apresentadas pelo diretor do IPEA para as Relações Econômicas e Politicas internacionais, Renato Baumann, à pergunta sobre se os Brics deveriam ver o Ocidente como parceiro ou como rival:
Renato Baumann, Director of Studies on Economic and International
Policy Relations at the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA),
Brazil.
To start with, it is difficult for Brazil
– and probably also South Africa
– to
consider themselves as non-Western: geography matters. With this
clarification, I understand that the question refers to how the main
economies – the U.S. and Western Europe – see the BRICS initiative.
My guess is that the economic agents in those countries view the
BRICS right now with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Curiosity,
because the group comprises some of the most important economies. But
since it is very recent, it is still to be seen how the group will
evolve and consolidate. Skepticism, because it is a
set of five countries with different histories and objectives, with lower rates of growth now than when the group was formed.
The very reason for forming the BRICS has always been the joint
perception by the five countries with regard to the needed changes in
global governance. This has led to a demanding position, sometimes
rather critical of the status quo. This has also led to a number of
initiatives to try and increase mutual knowledge. More importantly, the
group has initiated a substantive, unprecedented initiative, with the
creation of a joint institution – the New Development Bank – that will
allow for some degree of freedom in having an additional source of
resources for investment projects in infrastructure. At the same time,
it will be a big challenge to joint action by the five countries.
This means that the BRICS countries hardly see “the West” as rivals,
with perhaps the exception of one or other members, involved in specific
conflicts. As a group, the overall sentiment is that this is a
“building up exercise,” and not a contest.
Russia Direct, July 13, 2015