Why does BRICS become the foundation of a new type of international relations? – Mehr news agency RCO News Agency

According to Mehr news agency, quoted by BRICS TV, the BRICS group was initially formed as an economic alliance focusing on security and development issues. However, today, in order to achieve effective interaction, member states have to rethink and shape a new system of social and human coordinates.

Cultural cooperation in BRICS

The first point that researchers point out in examining BRICS intercultural cooperation is the difference in interests and values. These differences are not related to the current common goals of the countries of the global south, but to the cultural and civilizational foundations that have been formed throughout history. However, this is more of an advantage than a weakness. The greater the cultural differences among the members of this group, the greater their mutual interest. In such a situation, what the researchers refer to as “symbols of empathic complementarity” emerges.

This process has led to the formation of extensive cultural programs, exchange of artists and cultural activists, folklore groups, writers, students and university professors. In this way, art and education become bridges between civilizations. Since 2015, the governments of the BRICS member countries put the mission of shaping the cultural dimension of this alliance on the agenda; including holding meetings of the ministers of culture and tourism development. Since then, both the geography of BRICS has expanded significantly and the scale and depth of intercultural dialogue within this framework has increased.

At the same time, experts describe the existence of a developed intercultural and civilizational dialogue within a group that originally had an economic nature, a unique and even exemplary phenomenon.

Niklai Parkhitko, associate professor of the Department of Journalism Theory and History of Roden University and PhD candidate in historical sciences, said in an exclusive interview with BRICS TV: Cultural dialogue is the factor that distinguishes BRICS from all other alliances such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ASEAN and the G20. Culture is something that binds people together for centuries; Not only humans, but countries and even continents. I can confidently say that the cultural dialogue in the form that takes place in BRICS is an exemplary example of this type of interaction at the level of international communication.

Intercultural dialogue as the basis of the multipolar world

It is not without reason that experts consider the strategy of developing people’s diplomacy as one of the most successful approaches today. In an exclusive interview with BRICS TV, Ruslan Gerbenov, vice-chancellor of the Faculty of Global Processes of Moscow State University, emphasizes that culture, education and diplomacy are key elements in the formation of a common value and normative space in BRICS and compensate for the initial heterogeneity of this group. In addition, human cooperation creates stable social bonds, mutual trust and shared meanings, which ultimately lead to increasing the legitimacy of decisions made at the intergovernmental level.

He says: Such cooperation will help to establish BRICS as an actor in the polycentric world order. As a result, culture, education and diplomacy will elevate the interaction between our countries from the level of mere interests to the level of BRICS identity and ensure the long-term sustainability of this group.

Historical background and noteworthy points

Political scientists point out an interesting historical point: BRICS humanitarian cooperation is taking shape in a relatively specific historical context. In most cases, member countries of this group have not faced serious conflicts throughout their history, except for some limited and occasional events.

Niklai Parkhitko said in an interview with BRICS TV: We can look at the interaction of our cultures. Today, the strategic relations between Russia and China have reached an unprecedented level. The same applies to Russia’s relations with Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia or Indonesia.

In practice, BRICS today has a unique historical opportunity to build relationships based on mutual trust; including through institutions of soft power and popular diplomacy.

Institutions of soft power

BRICS is based on the principles of multipolarism, respect for the sovereignty of governments and national interests, consensus and the absence of any discrimination. In fact, all these principles are the characteristics of soft power; A power that has been manifested not only in occasional events, but also in the form of specific institutions.

Among these institutions, we can mention the international cultural forum “BRICS about the future”, which brings together the ministries of culture of the member countries, and its purpose is to create a cultural environment based on universal human values. Another example is the BRICS International Urban Forum; An annual event that deals with the development of tourism, architectural solutions and the creation of “receptive” spaces. Also, in September 2025, Brazil hosted the second BRICS Forum entitled “Traditional Values”, which was attended by representatives of parliaments, economic activists, cultural figures and NGOs from the member countries. The BRICS Youth Summit is another example that brings together young leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.

According to experts, these forms form the basis of deeper convergence, reduce the risk of conflict and strengthen the collective status of BRICS.

The language of culture

At the same time, to strengthen bonds within this group, a single language is often used that generally does not require translation; The language of art. In September 2025, Moscow hosted the 8th International Festival of Theater Schools of BRICS countries; An event that was recognized as the first innovative platform for cross-cultural exchange between theater universities of different countries in the field of performing arts and public diplomacy.

Since 2016, the BRICS Film Festival has been operating as a platform for cultural exchanges and is hosted by the BRICS presiding country every year. In the program of this festival, films from member countries will be shown.

In addition, exhibitions related to BRICS are held in different parts of the world. In 2024, Russian museums held a joint exhibition about China, which featured collections from museums in the Russian Federation. Two years before that, the Russian House in Italy hosted the art exhibition “Russia and BRICS in the cultural dimension; It was the new art of the new world” that the diplomatic missions of the BRICS countries participated in its preparation.

Intercultural exchange continues through sports competitions. The BRICS Games, as the flagship sports project of this group, have included national and traditional disciplines such as Brazilian Capoeira, the ancient team game of Kabaddi from India and Chinese Wushu in different years.

Education and science

International scientific cooperation in BRICS is linked with issues such as promoting science, improving public scientific literacy and attracting young talents in research activities. The result of this approach was the formation of BRICS Science Promoters Forum, which is held with the aim of exchanging experience. In countries like India and China, this field has been developed with the support of the government, and in Russia there are various formats, including scientific lectures, festivals and research expeditions.

Experts believe that despite some challenges, scientific and technological cooperation as a part of humanitarian diplomacy has a high capacity. The main axes of this cooperation include monitoring and prevention of natural disasters, water resources, new and renewable energies, geomatic development and astronomy.

Considering that education is one of the most promising areas for the expansion of BRICS interactions, the Russian delegation proposed the establishment of a BRICS network university in 2013. This university operates as a network of higher education institutions of member countries, and based on it, joint educational and research programs, student and professor exchanges, and continuous cultural exchanges have been formed.

Niklai Parkhitko explains about this: In joint educational projects, the mission of the BRICS Network University is for countries to know each other better; South Africa should know about Brazil, Brazil about China, China about Russia and Russia about India. This mechanism is an executive tool that helps bring closer positions, mutual understanding and development.

At the same time, the mission of this university goes beyond cultural convergence and focuses on educating a new generation of capable, creative and critical thinking professionals. Ruslan Gerbanov believes that this process means building “BRICS social capital”; Capital that is formed in the form of transnational networks of future elites, experts and public figures, who will become BRICS ambassadors and bearers of its values ​​and policies in the long run.

Culture and tourism

BRICS member countries are also developing cultural cooperation between cities. The idea of ​​creating a network of municipalities to become centers of tourism, gastronomy and creativity was first proposed in 2018. However, the BRICS Cities of Culture partnership has gone beyond this idea and has become a group of cities that promote the exchange of experience in urban management with a focus on connecting cities and regions of member and partner countries.

In the same framework, the International Urban Forum of the BRICS countries was held in Saint Petersburg in 2025 and brought together more than 5 thousand participants from about 100 countries. The main focus of this meeting was the creation of a comfortable environment compatible with the environment and the development of smart cities. The designers of the projects were inspired by the experience of their Chinese counterparts and the “15-minute city” idea; A city where all basic needs are available within a short distance. However, discussions in such forums usually go beyond urban planning and include areas such as automotive, investment, health, education, tourism and culture.

intercultural relations; Challenges and prospects

According to experts, the main challenge of intercultural dialogue development in BRICS is cultural diversity. Despite the mutual interest, this factor, along with language barriers, sometimes prevents a complete mutual understanding between the representatives of the member states. The BRICS countries are vast and distinct civilizations with different values, histories and worldviews, and finding common points and common approaches for dialogue, especially with the simultaneous presence of ten countries, requires considerable effort. Language differences also require accurate and delicate translation, and the possibility of misunderstanding and distortion of the meaning cannot be completely ruled out.

Gerbanov believes: the main challenge of dialogue in the background of historical and political tensions is to overcome two obstacles at the same time; Rooted images of the past and current geopolitical contests. This requires maintaining a delicate balance between principled adherence and the pragmatic search for consensus. The success of dialogue depends more on the ability of actors to realistically self-evaluate and create new frameworks of interaction than on formal mechanisms.

Finally, the degree of success of the BRICS member countries in facing these challenges will determine the future of the idea of ​​creating a stable system of international relations; An order based not on force, but on mutual respect and mutual understanding. According to experts, the BRICS platform itself has become a kind of laboratory where the basic principles of the world’s coexistence in the form of a single global system are currently being formed.