Understanding BRICS Nations

With the world becoming more polarized every day, the IdleGuy.com Librarian thought it would be a good idea to offer some books provide information on BRICS nations, particularly, India, China, and Russia. This month's selections will satisfy those who seek a better understanding of the cultures that shape these countries.

Russia, BRICS, and the Disruption of Global Order by Rachel S. Salzman (2019)

Russia’s leadership in establishing the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is emblematic of its desire to end US hegemony and rewrite the rules of the international system. Rachel S. Salzman tells the story of why Russia broke with the West, how BRICS came together, why the group is emblematic of Russia’s challenge to the existing global order, and how BRICS has changed since its debut. The BRICS group of non-Western states with emerging economies is held together by a shared commitment to revising global economic governance and strict noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries. BRICS is not exclusively a Russian story, but understanding the role of BRICS in Russian foreign policy is critical to understanding the group’s mission. In a time of alienation from the Euro-Atlantic world, BRICS provides Russia with much needed political support and legitimacy. While the longterm cohesion of the group is uncertain, BRICS stands as one of Vladimir Putin’s signature international accomplishments. This book is essential reading for scholars and policymakers interested in Russian foreign policy, the BRICS group, and global governance.

The China Horizon: Glory and Dream of a Civilizational State by Weiwei Zhang (2015)

This is a book of China’s own political narrative written by one of China’s leading and best-known thinkers. It is the last part of the author’s ‘China Trilogy’, which is a best-seller in China, with over one million copies sold. The book in itself is a centerpiece of the unfolding debate within China on the nature and future of the country and how it compares with the West. It addresses a hugely important issue of the day, i.e., in what way China is overtaking or may overtake the United States as the world’s preeminent power. The author provides an original and thought-provoking study on how China has managed, through its own development model, to catch up and even surpass, to various extents, the United States, in terms of gross GDP, net household assets and social protection.The book elaborates on how China has engaged itself in reshaping its institutions to ensure its smooth rise, drawing on the strengths of its own traditions, socialist legacies and elements from the West. It analyzes the weakness of the Western political institutions and discusses how China has developed its own institutional edge over the West. The author argues that as a civilizational state, China has evolved a logic of its own for development and its own political discourse which questions seriously many Western assumptions about democracy, good governance and universal values.The book recaptures the essence of China’s past glory and discusses the horizon of the Chinese dream as well as how China should meet the various challenges ahead. It offers a unique and original perspective on the future of this coming superpower. Like The China Wave, this book is both discerning and provocative, and serves as a required reading for everyone concerned with the rise of China and its global implications.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga (2008)

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga is a compelling and darkly humorous novel that provides a thought-provoking insight into the complexities of Indian society. The story follows the journey of Balram Halwai, a young man from a rural village who rises from poverty to become a successful entrepreneur in the bustling city of Delhi. Through Balram’s perspective, the novel delves into the intricacies of the caste system, corruption, and the struggle for social mobility in modern India. Adiga’s vivid and evocative storytelling captures the essence of Indian culture, shedding light on the disparities and challenges faced by the lower classes. This book on Indian culture offers a raw and unapologetic portrayal of the country’s societal norms and values, making it a must-read for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the complexities of Indian society.

A Short History of Russia: How the World’s Largest Country Invented Itself, from the Pagans to Putin by Mark Galeotti (2020)

Russia’s epic and dramatic story told in an accessible, lively and short form, using the country’s fascinating history to illuminate its future. A country with no natural borders, no single ethnic group, no true central identity, Russia has mythologized its past to unite its people and to signal strength to outsiders. Mark Galeotti takes us behind the myths to the heart of the Russian story: the formation of a nation through its early legends including Ivan the Terrible and Catherine the Great the rise and fall of the Romanovs, the Russian Revolution, the Cold War, Chernobyl and the Soviet Union the arrival of an obscure politician named Vladimir Putin.A Short History of Russia explores the history of this fascinating, glorious, desperate and exasperating country through two intertwined issues: the way successive influences from beyond its borders have shaped Russia, and the way Russians came to terms with this influence, writing and rewriting their past to understand their present and try to influence their future. In turn, this self-invented history has come to affect not just their constant nation-building project but also their relations with the world.