Blog
The RICs Ring Road: a network of bi-oceanic corridors for Eurasia
Among the infrastructural trends of the past several years, one of the most actively discussed has been creation of bi-oceanic corridors across the main regions of the Global South. And while the benefits from the launching of a system of bi-oceanic corridors would arguably accrue to the entire global economy via reducing the dependency on…
Platforms for regional arrangements: exploring the environmental route
In spite of the rising prominence of regionalism in the global economy in recent periods, there is as yet no horizontal platform that brings together all the key regional integration arrangements. Far more headway has been observed in other regional tracks such as platforms for regional development banks as well as regional financing arrangements[1]. Perhaps…
A platform for middle powers: the emergence of P4M
The intensity of geopolitical shocks in the world economy is evidently starting to translate into a marked rise in country coalitions seeking to mitigate or by-pass the tensions between the great powers. Among the most active in this alliance formation are small economies and middle powers, with small economies such as Singapore and New Zealand…
A recent CGTN poll on BRICS
Ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit in India the CGTN news agency unveiled its poll regarding the perception of BRICS across developed and developing countries. The survey was conducted by CGTN among 12,250 respondents across 41 countries and covered major developed economies and Global South countries [1]. The methodology of the survey envisaged that “all…
India’s 2026 BRICS summit delivers the BRICS+ outreach momentum
The BRICS summit in India in 2026 succeeded in providing the key deliverables related to the cohesion of the bloc and the objectives set by India’s presidency with respect to boosting BRICS economic cooperation at the micro-level of companies and key sectors. In this respect, most of the observers rightly pointed to the unanimous adoption…
BRICS summit declaration unanimously approved; India advances crucial proposals
The BRICS summit in India delivered today the final declaration approved by all core members of the bloc. The declaration builds on some of the key tracks of BRICS development from the past several years, while also launching new initiatives prioritized by India during its chairmanship. On some of the issues such as the BRICS…
SCO summit in Bishkek: another boost to the SCO+ format
The SCO summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, that took place on August 31 – September 1, 2026 featured an impressive list of agreements signed by participating parties, including the approval of a joint action plan for biodiversity conservation until 2031 together with a memorandum on climate change mitigation; the endorsement of a «Green Technology Corridor» program directed at…
A Regional Development Bank for the SCO: time for platform coordination
In 2025 SCO members approved the creation of a new SCO development bank, with further steps towards its institutionalization expected in 2026, including during the SCO summit in Bishkek scheduled for August 31-September 1, 2026. The decision to create a regional development bank for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a step towards widening the array…
Bridging oceanic divides: in search of new connectivity paradigms
A pier is a disappointed bridge; yet stare at it long enough and you can dream it to the other side of the Channel. – J. Barnes In our earlier forays into exploring the scope for oceanic platforms we noted the already high degree of institutionalization of regional economic cooperation in some of the segments…
Oceanic platforms: following the Pacific blueprint
Despite the existing fault lines and fragilities, the wide expanses of the Pacific basin may be viewed as one of the more successful regions in the world economy. The admirable efforts undertaken by APEC to drive greater economic openness, the success of ASEAN as a model of regional integration across the Global South as well…
