BRICS in Identity Crisis with Four Languages between Five Nations

The annual BRICS summit brings together five disparate economies with only their size as the common denominator. India, Brazil and South Africa are democracies. China is totalitarian. Russia is run by crony capitalist oligarchs.

English is the language of India and South Africa but the other three speak in Portuguese, Russian and Chinese.

The economies too, differ widely in basic structure and in performance. South Africa is weak. Russia’s economy is hit by the oil and commodity price downslide and sanctions over Ukraine. Brazil’s GDP will probably be overtaken by India some time this year or next, China will be number one economy in the world soon.

It is no wonder that the Grouping is metamorphing to another form with Russia and Indian taking a lead as others lose interest.