The Western-centered post-Cold War world order resulted in the development of hierarchical state perceptions of their role and influence in the international system. With the US as hegemon, unipolarity has revealed these contrasting state perceptions regarding the nature of international relations and transitions of power. The unipolar international structure has failed to provide equal opportunities and progress for state actors thus far. Following the 1648 Westphalian world order, the concept of equal sovereign states became a staple custom of modern international relations. Today’s increasingly complex international structure requires new influential actors, organizations and platforms in the international system to usher in global development, and compete with Western-oriented political and military structures, such as the European Union and NATO. In this respect, BRICS provides a solid option for states to actively engage in new non-Western international structures.
For Türkiye, the changing dynamics in international relations have become thought-provoking in recent years, both in terms of its NATO membership and the problems NATO and its member states face in terms of international development. Likewise, Türkiye’s attempt to become an EU member state appears to reflect an outdated expectation of the US hegemonic world order that has now immensely changed since the 1990s. In this respect, the possibility of Türkiye becoming a BRICS member is now more monumental than ever. Given Türkiye’s changing role in the evolving multipolar world order, how should it seek to balance its alliances with the EU and NATO, while also consider the potential of becoming a BRICS member?
While the issue of Türkiye’s efforts to join the BRICS community is on the international agenda, it is crucial to understand that this is an ongoing process and will take time. However, if Türkiye were to take such a step, it would not only be a move that challenges a US-led world order and its remnants, but also an opportunity for Türkiye to diversify and expand its approach to foreign policy that considers new alternatives. The potential consequences of Türkiye joining BRICS are significant and bountiful, as it could potentially further shift the balance of power in the global system, impacting existing alliances and economic structures.
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Another BRICS in the World System
Although BRICS did not bring immediate implications for the international system when it was first established, with time it proved critical in terms of its future power potential. In 2006, BRIC was founded by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, later expanding to include South Africa in 2010, establishing what now is known as BRICS. The alliance protects the common interests of its member states and fosters economic and political cooperation among its members. This is because BRICS, being home to 41.3% of the world’s population and 37.3% of the world’s GDP, provides a platform for economically and politically disadvantaged countries to develop, offering hope for a more balanced and just global system. Aiding in this development was the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB) in 2014, whose purpose was to aid the financing of BRICS infrastructure and sustainable development projects for the Global South. This strategic initiative underscores the commitment of these nations to fostering economic growth and sustainability on a global scale.
BRICS provides a voice to non-Western nations, promoting mutual respect for both the common interests and the individual sovereignty its member states. To this end, the 2023 BRICS Summit proved critical for the developmental trajectory of the organization, as it underscored the importance of two items on the BRICS agenda. The first item addressed the admission of new members—the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Argentina, and Ethiopia—resulting in the greatest expansion of BRICS membership list since 2010. The second item on the BRICS agenda focused on economic cooperation and the potential for BRICS to challenge the current global economic power structure by using an alternative currency to the US dollar. This signaled the growing intention of the international community to establish a new economic bloc that can successfully compete with or balance out the West.
After the admission of its new members, the economic power of BRICS enabled countries with large energy resources to come together on a united platform, expanding BRICS potential to play a more decisive role in the global economy. BRICS members produce approximately 44% of global crude oil, particularly expanding its spheres of influence in the energy sector. Factors that strengthen BRICS influence include the ability of the organization to position itself against the G7 and US, and solidify the rhetoric of the international community against the unipolar global power structure. As proof, the BRICS alliance has surpassed the G7 in purchasing power parity, accounting for 35.6% of global GDP, while the G7 accounts for 30.3%.
Türkiye and the Multipolar World Order
Since end of the Cold War, Türkiye has actively played a leading role in supporting Western-centered international military and politico-economic organizations, the most famous of which being NATO. Türkiye’s long-standing quest for acceptance in the European Union represents a critically significant political and economic trajectory of the nation that embraced the spirit of the post-Cold War world order. However, this approach is now increasingly subject to scrutiny within the context of the evolving world order. Considering Türkiye’s contrasting geopolitical positions and Muslim population, the country follows an international approach grounded in practicality and pragmatism, resembling less like the EU and more like other great powers such as Russia and China. In this context, Türkiye’s international strategies are shaped by flexibility and applicability, even in the face of its long-term objectives such as gaining EU membership. For this reason, the direction of Türkiye’s evolving yet balanced foreign policy has become even more important in recent years. However, Türkiye’s role in balancing out the global system is far from a new phenomenon. This shift, characterized by Türkiye’s search for alternative economic opportunities, carries significant implications for the previous Western-dominated world order and Türkiye’s role within it.
After February 2022, unlike its Western colleagues, Türkiye maintained economic and political relations with Russia. In turn, this led to some clashing opinions within NATO, eventually culminating in Türkiye’s expedited efforts to diversify its foreign policy. In this respect, joining BRICS provides an excellent option to do so. Although Türkiye’s interest in BRICS is not new, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed interest in becoming a member at the 10th BRICS Summit in 2018. As a BRICS member state, Türkiye will aim to increase its economic cooperation with other states, especially with Russia and China, and seek to become a bridge between EU and Asian markets. However, this move could also potentially put a strain on Türkiye’s relations with the EU, given their historical tensions and the EU’s strong alignment with NATO. Here, the consequences of Türkiye adopting a multi-centered approach should be considered carefully.
In the context of BRICS, Türkiye’s pragmatic approach to enhancing collaboration with international stakeholders in both Western and Eurasian spheres positions it as a valuable international actor. Particularly, amidst Eurasia’s recent ascension, Türkiye’s role as a regional actor has gained immense prominence. A comprehensive understanding of the economic and political dimensions of BRICS underscores its potential to forge new economic and political opportunities .
As a BRICS member state, Türkiye could offer both economic and political opportunities within the context of its multi-vector foreign policy. However, this move also carries possible political consequences, particularly in relation to Türkiye’s ongoing EU membership process. While collaboration with BRICS could strengthen Türkiye’s role on the international stage, it may prompt the EU to reassess its stance on Türkiye, which has been largely influenced by cultural and religious considerations, contributing to the prolonged membership process. Although Türkiye’s recent participation in the EU Informal Foreign Ministers’ Meeting—following its five-year hiatus—is seen as a step towards a new phase in Türkiye-EU relations, it is crucial to recognize that underlying issues in this relationship still persist. Understanding these complexities is key to navigating the future of Türkiye-EU relations.
Today, BRICS is a pivotal platform for the future direction of the international system, especially in the organization’s ability to act as a platform that combats US hegemony and Western dominance by investing in the Global South and embracing new regional great powers. Opting for the use of individual state currencies or the creation of a common currency would be a striking blow to the dollar’s influence on the global financial system. This development is not only economic in nature, but also a political symptom of the evolution of multipolarity in the international structure. In this context, the day in which Türkiye becomes a BRICS member state, is the day it would turn away from appeasing Western international dominance, opting instead for multipolarity and its new role in the evolving world order.
Engaging with BRICS could open up new economic opportunities for Türkiye, allowing for increased trade and investment with emerging markets.
Türkiye’s collaboration with BRICS illustrates its desire to broaden its geopolitical influence and economic ties.
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