BRICS at 25: China’s Economic Dominance and the Hollowing of De-Dollarization
Jim O'Neill's BRICS concept reaches its silver anniversary amid mounting skepticism about its economic cohesion. The bloc's de-dollarization efforts remain more rhetorical than substantive, with China's $18 trillion economy now dwarfing all other members combined. Beijing's GDP quadrupled Japan's since 2001 while India's promised potential remains unfulfilled.
O'Neill's retrospective analysis reveals structural flaws: 'Without a doubt, China...has blown the other three countries away.' This lopsided dynamic undermines collective BRICS initiatives, as Shanghai's capital markets now exceed Russia's entire GDP. Emerging market traders increasingly treat BRICS as a China proxy rather than balanced partnership.