... remains an admirable relic – a model from a different age. It may inspire, but it cannot be replicated under present conditions. Today, that idea survives mainly among those seeking a new balance of power outside the Western world: organizations such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
At the SCO summit in Tianjin this September, members again stressed respect for sovereignty as the foundation of secure and universal development. It is a reminder that the process must begin at home. Eurasian states must learn to stabilize their own region on the basis of legitimacy, not dependency.
Many still practise what they call
“multi-vector”
diplomacy – cultivating ties with powers whose policies toward Russia or China are at best unfriendly....
... be cautious and try to avoid an alliance mentality and Western mistakes. For example, many experts believe that Russia’s suspension from the G-8 in 2014 sharpened the divide between the Global South and North. It also intensified the crisis in the Eurasia region. Second, if the BRICS decides on an alternative currency, then the currency must not be the national currency of any member country. The world has already been facing the worst consequences of such a decision.
Lastly, it should create linkages with SCO to strengthen ...
... approach to BRICS+ is the cooperation among the regional integration blocks and regional organizations in which BRICS/BRICS+ countries are members. The nucleus of this format may be based on the cooperation among the key/priority regional projects of BRICS members: BIMSTEC (South Asia), Eurasian Economic Union, African Union, MERCOSUR (Latin America), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Asia). Such a format has the benefit of being significantly more inclusive with respect to the small- and medium-sized economies of the Global South. ...
The tapestry of ancient Silk Routes
The ancient maritime and overland Silk Routes have been revived. Its modern incarnation, driven by China’s Belt and Road Initiative (B&R), stands on the verge of connecting the Eurasian landmass, East Africa and Western Europe into a single trading matrix.
Many Asian communities were defined by the ancient Silk routes. The Knanayas of the Malabar Coast, for example, were notable players in the western segment of the Maritime ...
