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The raison d’etre for a book on BRICS is not only due to its emergent dynamism and expansion but also from the fact that the international system is moving towards a more independent direction, bringing together nations which are desirous of engaging in trade in their own currencies and developing organic solutions for complex challenges as terrorism, climate change and trade barriers among others.

The informal alliance of rising economies known as BRICS—which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, plus five new members and expanding—aims to gain more influence in the world economy. BRICS was created in 2009 with the conceptualisation that international organizations were no longer supportive of emerging nations and were disproportionately dominated by Western nations. The group has worked to establish new financial institutions, lessen reliance on the US dollar, and coordinate the political and economic strategies of its members. On a number of issues, including as ties with the US and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, BRICS has, nevertheless, suffered from internal conflicts. Its expanding membership, meanwhile, is creating new conflicts and impacting the existing world order.

Hence, the book will unravel answers to questions as: What is the motivation for nations to join BRICS? How can the engagement of multiple small and middle powers result in a transformed world order? How will India participate in a grouping that China seeks to dominate? How will BRICS contribute to reforming the UN system?

Tentative Outline of Chapters for BRICS volume

1. Economic Transformation and Global Power Shift

This can include chapters on rise of BRICS as alternative to Western-dominated economic arrangements and BRICS role in reshaping global trade, investment and financial flows 

2. Geopolitical Influence and New Multilateralism 

This can include chapters on efforts to establish reformed global order with reformed institutions 

This can include chapters on BRICS balancing regional aspirations esp of emerging powers 

3. Sustainable Development and Shared Growth 

This can include chapters on BRICS collaborative strategies addressing poverty, inequality e.g. New Dev Bank as well as BRICS contribution to UN SDGs; can also include BRICS work on Climate crisis mitigation 

4. Cultural and Civilizational Connections 

This can have chapters exploring into how BRICS is building shared constituencies to connect their diverse histories, cultures, identities. It can include chapters on BRICS promoting inter- and multi-cultural connections to promote their combined soft power together 

5. Technological Innovation and Digital Transformation 

This can include chapters on BRICS’ work on AI, Blockchain, space explorations and other critical and emerging technologies , as well as chapters on BRICS unique ways of using technology to promote economic growth and social change 

6. South-South Cooperation and Global Governance

This can have chapters on BRICS emerging as most attractive platform for promoting equity and justice for Global South nations and chapters on BRICS ways of institution building to redefine global financial governance and security architecture  

7. BRICS in 21st Century 

This can include chapters on how BRICS deals with challenges of pandemics, wars, violence, ideological polarisation and/or chapters addressing issues of BRICS future expansion and its future trajectories and influence etc.

Sub themes ( not limited to the following):

➢ Financial independence and Institutions
➢ De-dollarisation and delinking with the West
➢ Innovation and economic transformation
➢ Climate Change and BRICS
➢ Reimagining Security
➢ China in BRICS
➢ India’s Vision for BRICS
➢ UNSC Reform
➢ Trade Agreements

Tentative Timeline

March 1: Deadline for submission of Abstracts

March 5: Notification of Acceptance of Abstracts

March 31: Submission of draft chapters

April 12, 2025 (Saturday):  Hybrid Workshop with contributors of chapters.

ABSTRACTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED VIA E-MAIL TO PROFESSOR REENA MARWAH @ aassouthasia@gmail.com.

Association of Asia Scholars in collaboration with Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India had organised a three day International Conference themed on, “Connecting East: Confluence of IPOI and AOIP Visions” on September 1-3, 2022 (Thursday~Saturday).

For more information visit @ https://rb.gy/j48dtn

“Reverse Subsidies in Global Monopsony Capitalism” discussion on 22 April 2022, 5:30 PM (IST).

Past Events

Prof. Darko Trifunovic (Director, Institute for National and International Security, Republic of Serbia and Editor, Security Science Journal) addressed AAS Webinar on the theme, “Europe and Asian Security: Strategic and Geopolitical Dilemmas” on 21st July 2021.

Prof Taniguchi Tomohiko (former Advisor to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, currently Professor at Keio University Graduate School of System Design and management, Tokyo) addressed AAS Webinar on the theme, “QUAD: Genesis and Future Trajectories” on 16 June 2021.

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Asanga Abeyagoonasekera (Senior Advisor to Opposition Leader of Sri Lanka and former Director-General of Institute of National Security Studies, Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka) addressed AAS Webinar on the theme “Sri Lanka’s Geopolitical Challenges: Past and Present” on 5th May 2021.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  signed between Association of Asia Scholars, New Delhi and University of Science & Technology (USTM), Meghalaya, on May 13, 2022.

 

AAS Monthly Newsletter

15 December 2021

15 November 2021

AAS October Newsletter

September 2021

August 2021

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A wonderful international conference on “Revisiting Gandhi” organised by The Association of Asia Scholars, which increasingly is providing a valuable platform for scholars and practitioners to discuss and share perspectives on domestic and global issues of importance. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Prof Swaran Singh and Prof Reena Marwah and their team for organising excellent events with exemplary enthusiasm and hardwork.

Prof B. R. Deepak, Vice President,
AAS Center of Chinese and South-East Asian Studies, JNU, Delhi

I owe my sincere gratitude to AAS that offers me an opportunity to participate in its webinar series amid the Covid-19 pandemic and a global power transition, Nelson Mandela said, and I quote, “A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” Indian Society in general and AAS in particular have many good hearts and good heads to make a better world for everyone through literate tongue and pen at the UN Security Council.

Dr. Khin Maung Soe, Advisor,
Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS), Myanmar

I congratulate Prof. Swaran Singh, Dr. Reena Marwah and the AAS team for taking the initiative to organise weekly webinars by distinguished experts of global repute. These contribute towards enhancing critical thinking among scholars and policymakers on contemporary issues and have kept the academic spirit alive. I have attended many AAS webinars and find them quite engaging and enriching. One of the most positive points of these webinars is that each participant is given a chance to interact with the speakers.

Prof. Nirmal Jindal
Principal, Satyawati College, University of Delhi, New Delhi

Brilliant and versatile are the two words to best describe AAS Wednesday Webinars. They present a platform for topical themes to be debated among experts from various parts of India and the world. Kudos and many thanks to AAS for the opportunity of sharing my ideas with old and newfound online friends.

Prof Joefe Santarita,
Dean, Asian Centre, University of Philippines, Diliman Campus, Manila

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Sanjay Kumar Bhardwaj is Chairperson & Professor Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies, JNU. His Areas of Specialization include India’s Foreign Policy with special reference to its Neighbours (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and China), Bangladesh: Identity, Politics and Foreign Policy issues, South Asia: History of Partition, Identity, Religion, South Asia: Politico-Security, Socio-Cultural Issues. He is the recipient of several awards and fellowships.

 

Sharad Kumar Soni is a Professor, Centre for Inner Asian Studies, School of International Studies His research interests include Mongolian, Central Asian and Inner Asian Studies with a focus on history, culture, ethnicity, politics and international relations of Mongolia, Kazakhstan as well as Tibet and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regions of China, apart from issues concerning Mongol culture areas of Siberian Republics of Tuva and Buryatia. 

Sanjay Sharma is Professor with Ambedkar University, Delhi. He is a historian, translator and media practitioner. He was educated in Allahabad University (B.A.), Jawaharlal Nehru University (M.A.), Delhi University (M.Phil) and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (Ph.D). He has researched on aspects of famine, relief, food security, drought, environmental degradation, state welfarism and philanthropy in modern India. He is also interested in issues of poverty, hunger, diet, disease, malnutrition, health and medicine in the colonial period. His wider areas of interest include state formation, popular culture, language and media in northern India. He has been engaged with comparative histories of India, China and Europe.

Reena Marwah is Professor, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi, India. Her research interests include international relations, international business and politics of globalization. She was an ICSSR Senior Fellow, MHRD, Govt. of India, from June 2017 to May, 2019 and a Senior Academic Consultant with ICSSR for three years. She is the recipient of several awards and fellowships (including the Robert McNamara fellowship of the World Bank in 1999 and the Asian Scholarship Foundation fellowship in 2002. Her latest book (March 2020), Re-imagining India-Thailand Relations: A Multilateral and Bilateral Perspective, has been published by World Scientific Publishers, Singapore.

Sukhpal Singh is with the Centre for Management in Agriculture (CMA), IIM, Ahmedabad. He has eight books including the recent ones on fresh food retail chains in India (2011), Modern food value chains in India (2012), and producer companies (2014),  and has published more than 100 research papers in international/national journals/edited books, and 50 review articles/articles in popular dailies/magazines. He was a visiting fellow at the IDS, Sussex (Brighton), UK, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, and the University of Manchester; UK.

Lakhwinder Singh is Professor of Economics and Head, Department of Economics, Punjabi University, and Coordinator, Centre for Development Economics and Innovations Studies (CDEIS), Punjabi University. His research interests include development Economics, Systems of Innovation, Human Development and Knowledge-Economy, Rural-Urban Migration, Area Studies (Punjab, India, South Korea, Asia and BRICS). He is the recipient of several awards and fellowships and has published extensively.

Sangeeta Thapliyal, is a Professor at the Centre for Inner Asian Studies, School of International Studies and is currently an ICCR Chair professor in Spain. She works on strategic issues concerning South Asia with a special reference to Nepal. Her areas of research include Water Security in South Asia and Regional Cooperation. Her previous work experience includes the Director, Department of Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Jammu, Observer Research Foundation, Delhi Policy Group and the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies.

B. R. Deepak is a Professor of Chinese and China Studies at the Centre of Chinese and Southeast Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India. He is the recipient of many scholarships and awards and has published extensively. He is the author of India and China 1904-2004: A Century of Peace and Conflict (2005), China: Agriculture, Countryside and Peasantry (2010), and Chinese Poetry: From 11th Century BC to 14th Century AD for which he has won China Special Book Award in 2011; India-China Relations: Civilizational Perspective (2012); India-China Relations: Future Perspectives (2012). 

Swaran Singh is Professor for Diplomacy and Disarmament at Centre for International Politics, Organization and Disarmament (CIPOD), School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi). He is President of Association of ASIA Scholars, General Secretary of Indian Association of Asian & Pacific Studies, Guest Professor at Research Institute of Indian Ocean Economies, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics (China) and Advisory Board Member of Atlanta-based Communities Without Borders Inc. (United States). He has numerous publications to his credit.

Dr. E. Sridharan is the Academic Director of the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India (UPIASI) in New Delhi. He is a political scientist with research interests in comparative politics and political economy of development, party systems and coalition politics, and international relations theory and conflict resolution in South Asia.

Patricia Uberoi is currently Chairperson and Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS), Delhi. A sociologist by training, Dr Uberoi has taught Sociology at the University of Delhi and the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and retired as Professor of Social Change and Development at the Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi. Her research interests centre on aspects of family, kinship, gender, popular culture and social policy in respect to both India and China.

Ambassador (Retd.) Sudhir T. Devare is a former Indian diplomat who joined the Indian Foreign Service (I.F.S) in 1964. He has worked in several Indian embassies abroad such as Moscow, Washington, Geneva and Myanmar. As Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs (1998-2001) he was closely associated with the evolution and implementation of India’s Look East policy as well as multilateral economic relations with the world. He was a member of the National Security Advisory Board in 2002-03. He was also a Visiting Professor at the Centre of East Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has held several positions of eminence, including the position of Director-General of the Indian Council of World Affairs from 2009-2012.

Prasenjit Duara is the Oscar Tang Chair of East Asian Studies at Duke University. He was born and educated in India and received his PhD in Chinese history from Harvard University. He was previously Professor and Chair of the Dept of History and Chair of the Committee on Chinese Studies at the University of Chicago (1991-2008). Subsequently, he became Raffles Professor of Humanities and Director, Asia Research Institute at National University of Singapore (2008-2015). He has published extensively.

Wang Gungwu (b. 9 October 1930, Surabaya, Indonesia–) is an internationally renowned historian famed for his scholarship on the history of the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia, as well as the history and civilisation of China and Southeast Asia. In his illustrious academic career, Wang has held eminent appointments in various universities and organisations around the world. He is currently a professor emeritus at the Australian National University, and a University Professor at the National University of Singapore (NUS), the highest academic title conferred by NUS. He was the Chairperson of the ASF.