Comments on: BRIC is not going to be come BRICS

By: Economic and political brics and choirs || Twenty Third Floor

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:30:49 +0000

[…] I argued a few months ago, amid speculation that South Africa would be joining Brazil, Russia, India and China to turn the BRIC group into BRICS, that South Africa did not fit the mould of large economies with large populations, growing rapidly. […]

By: James Thorpe

James Thorpe — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 07:31:56 +0000

Agreed, BRIC was initially a descriptive term, grouping together countries that met certain criteria… now it has become almost a political alliance where countries join by invitation rather than qualification. ie Politics, rather than economic factors now dominate.

Certainly in terms of the initial criteria, your point stands.

By: David Kirk

David Kirk — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:38:31 +0000

In reply to James Thorpe. Yeah, awkward that. I'm tempted to say "they still shouldn't be" but that would just me compounding my original mistake. I was considering this from an economic perspective, rather than a political counter-US perspective. South Africa's voting record in the UN is the real driver here. Our small economy and limited growth don't seem to be relevant.

By: James Thorpe

James Thorpe — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:31:27 +0000

Nevertheless, here it is

http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2011/01/21/bric-becomes-brics-changes-on-the-geopolitical-chessboard/