by Martin Aslan In 2001, Jim O'Neill 1 identified four emerging countries likely to become the world's leading economies by 2050. Brazil, Russia, India and China had adopted a market economy and embarked on reforms (in the field of education, foreign direct investment and business start-ups) to integrate into the global economy. In 2006, the four nations decided to join forces in an economic partnership. Today, the group has grown to include nine member states. Compared to the G7, the BRICS + alliance is a symbol of hope for emerging countries. It is also a magnet for countries in South America, Africa and South-East Asia. However, the weight of China, but also of India, risks weakening the development of other member countries. China, whose GDP is higher than that of the other countries combined, tends to want to show its supremacy and to act unilaterally. The weight of economic growth and demographic growth The strength of the BRICS + lies in their rate of economic and dem...