Review by Choice Review
In this second edition, Stuenkel (Getúlio Vargas Foundation, Brazil) presents an in-depth analysis of BRICS, an association of five emerging powers (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), illustrating how these countries have countered Western influence in international institutions such as the UN, the World Bank, and IMF. Stuenkel's well-balanced analysis discusses both the positive and negative aspects of intra-BRICS cooperation, particularly its views on the UN's "Responsibility to Protect" (R2P) in Libya. As in the first edition, the book details the evolution of the BRIC acronym as a financial concept in 2001 to the present, highlighting various summits that resulted in intra-BRICS cooperation in a variety of technical areas. Moreover, Stuenkel presents readers with the complexities of this BRICS grouping, acknowledging tensions that exist among members, and in the case of Russia's invasion of Crimea, how the actions of one member can impact the foreign policy of others. Whether BRICS will trigger a systemic change in the global order or not, Stuenkel's analysis makes clear that the legitimacy of the current international order is undermined, and emerging powers can no longer be silenced or denied access to reshape international institutions. This well-written volume remains the sole publication providing a comprehensive historical analysis of BRICS. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals. --Emily Acevedo, California State University, Los Angeles
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
