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Abstract
The rise of new economic powers has seen increasing attention focused on the international role of the BRICS countries. Importantly, a common feature uniting the BRICS is that they are all resource-rich, and many analysts (and some BRICS governments) have argued that natural resources are one of the key factors propelling the rise of the group. This article explores the BRICS’ emerging status as ‘resource powers’, examining how resource wealth underpins their economic development and foreign policy strategies, and thus contributes to their growing influence in international affairs. It is argued that through the use of nationalistic mining and energy policies, the BRICS governments have exploited natural resources for both domestic economic and international diplomatic objectives. However, there are several challenges and emerging risks facing the BRICS’ resource strategies, which mean that resource wealth is making a positive – though inherently limited – contribution to the growing international status of the group.
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank Stephen Buzdugan, Anita John and several anonymous reviewers for comments on prior versions of this paper.
Notes
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4. Abramova and Fituni, “Russia, BRICS and the Global Supply Chain,” 138; and Armijo, “The BRICS Countries,” 19.
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7. Stulberg, Well-oiled Diplomacy, 53–57.
8. Abramova and Fituni, “Russia, BRICS and the Global Supply Chain” 138; and Armijo, “The BRICS Countries,” 19.
9. Gustafson and Armijo, “Regional Integration”; Lim, Oil and Gas in China; Orttung and Overland, “A Limited Toolbox”; and Rutland, “Russia as Energy Superpower.”
10. Stulberg, Well-oiled Diplomacy; Rutland, “Russia as Energy Superpower”; and O’Sullivan, “The Entanglement of Energy.”
11. Tudoroiu, “Conceptualizing BRICS,” 31–34.
12. Armijo and Roberts, “The Emerging Powers”; and Sinha and Dorschner, “India.”
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14. For a review, see Cooper and Flemes, “Foreign Policy Strategies,” 951–955.
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16. Lee et al., Resources Futures, 93–128.
17. Armijo, “The BRICS Countries,” 19–20.
18. Abramova and Fituni, “Russia, BRICS and the Global Supply Chain,” 149–151.
19. Tudoroiu, “Conceptualizing BRICS,” 42.
20. Medvedev, “BRIC Countries”; Singh, “Prime Minister’s Statement”; and Xinhua, “S. African President.”
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22. Author’s summary from BRICS Information Centre, “BRICS Official Documents.”
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33. Author’s calculations from UNCTAD, “UNCTADStat Database.”
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35. Kononczuk, Russia’s Best Ally, 13.
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46. Author’s calculations from WSA, Steel Statistical Yearbook.
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48. O’Sullivan, “The Entanglement of Energy,” 37–41.
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50. Orttung and Overland, “A Limited Toolbox,” 79–80.
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52. Ratner et al., Europe’s Energy Security, 6–7.
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55. Gustafson and Armijo, “Regional Integration.”
56. President of Brazil, Government Guidelines.
57. Dauvergne and Farias, “The Rise of Brazil,” 913–914.
58. Wilson, “Northeast Asian Resource Security Strategy,” 22.
59. PCI, Integrated Energy Policy, 51, 127–128; and PCI, Twelfth Five-Year Plan, 112, 182.
60. ONGC Videsh, Annual Report, 24–44; and Wilson, “Northeast Asian Resource Security Strategy,” 24.
61. Jiang and Sinton, Overseas Investments, 41.
62. Wilson, “Northeast Asian Resource Security Strategy,” 25.
63. Author’s summary from FOCAC, “FOCAC Archives.”
64. Author’s summary from BRICS Information Centre, “BRICS Official Documents.”
65. BRICS, The BRICS Report, 39.
66. Russian Federation, Concept of Participation.
67. See BRICS Information Centre, “BRICS Official Documents.”
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74. Author’s calculations from UNCTAD, “UNCTADStat Database.”
75. Lee et al., Resources Futures, 39–41.
76. Rutland, “Russia as Energy Superpower.”
77. Smith Stegen, “Deconstructing the ‘Energy Weapon’,” 6510–6511.