PRIMO Researcher

PRIMO Early Stage Researcher and Trainee Researcher at the World Economy Department, SPbU

Martin Pioch

Research Abstract: BRICS in the WTO: (Re-) Emerging Powers in Global Governance

The topic of my PhD thesis and current research circles around the impact of (re-)emerging powers on international institutions. A group of these powers - namely the BRICS - have in recent years built some kind of political association and started meetings and cooperation on different state levels and in various different policy fields. My research therefore aims to explain the motivations and aims of the BRICS in the WTO and within the international trading system in general, in order to understand the impact of current powers shifts and the prospects of (re-)emerging powers in global governance. The whole issue is related to the broader interest in IR and IPE about a world order in transition and the emergence or re-emergence of non-Western powers, not only in regional contexts but also with global impact.

In order to understand the level of BRICS influence in the WTO as a group, we need to understand their level of cooperation. I assume that BRICS trade policies are either dominated by their single economic interests or by a coordinated and shared vision for global trade. Therefore I will firstly analyze trade clusters of the BRICS and then compare them with the actual policies in the WTO in recent years. If BRICS trade policies deviate from their trade clusters, I will conduct qualitative interviews and research in order to explain if this deviation is a result of BRICS political coordination. In case of no deviation the same qualitative research will be conducted to understand the limitations of BRICS cooperation. The result will show us the current level of BRICS political coordination and if we can see them acting as a political group or bloc in the WTO.