On March 20, 2024, the CLAS Program on the Political Economy of Latin America and the Caribbean (ProPELAC) held an event titled “BRICS Explained: Brazil’s Strategic Position in Emerging Global Powers”. The event featured a student-led discussion with Margaret Myers from Inter-American Dialogue, Monica de Bolle from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and Jenny Guardado from CLAS. The discussion covered the BRICS alliance—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—and its influence on global trade, investment, and politics. The panel explored how BRICS has positioned itself as a competitor to the G7, examining Brazil’s unique role in the group due to President Lula’s focus on south-south relations. While BRICS was formed to challenge US dominance in the global economy, the panelists highlighted the tensions and opportunities within the alliance, particularly regarding policy differences and the need for cooperation. They also discussed the New Development Bank’s limited impact, trade integration, and Brazil’s strategic framework for understanding the complexities of BRICS.
