Groping in the Dark with the “Non-Places” BRICS: Geopolitics of the Emergence of an Empire or States Racing to the Bottom?

Abstract

Theorization of regionalism is yet to resolve the question of the appropriateness of amalgamation versus pluralism jurisdiction. The formation of the BRICs in 2009, and the inclusion of South Given historical matrices of coloniality in global geopolitics and international relations, Russia and, perhaps, China could be harbouring selfinterests relating to cultural, historical and ideological assimilation within the set. To this extent, the BRICS set's regionalism should construed as another oxymoron wherein member states joined "non-places" that are "groping in the dark" within global geopolitics and international relations. Nuance notions of "empires" provide useful insights to understanding the motives underlying the BRICS set. This article aims to determine if the BRICS set signifies the emergence of contemporary empires with "civilizing" missions or if it is a manifestation of states racing to the bottom. The article concludes that the BRICS is a deeply complex and conflicted set that involves attempts at both externally-driven and inward-oriented management of international geopolitics through "civilizing" missions and/or "non-places" regionalism of states racing to the bottom.