In the wake of the post-Cold War era, the aftermath of 9/11, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the emergence of the G20 at the leaders level, few commentators expected a reshaping of the global system towards multipolarity, and away from the United States. And yet, the BRICS - encompassing Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - has emerged as a challenge to the international status quo. But what is its capacity as a transformative force? And can it provide a significant counter-narrative to the Western dominated global order?

In this Very Short Introduction Andrew Cooper explores the emergence of the BRICS as a concept. Drawing on historical precedent, Cooper provides a contemporary analysis of the BRICS' practice and influence as as a forum and a lobby group in advancing a distinctive but amorphous agenda amongst global politics.

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Andrew F. Cooper is the associate director of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Waterloo. His research interests include international institutional reform, diplomatic innovation and practices, and celebrity diplomacy.

Agata Antkiewicz is a senior researcher at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), where she oversees the BRICSAM and economic governance projects. Her articles have been published in numerous international journals.

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