The BRICS and Other Emerging Power Alliances and Multilateral Organizations in the Asia‐Pacific and the Global South: Challenges for the European Union and Its View on Multilateralism

Abstract Over the past decade the BRICS ( B razil, R ussia, I ndia, C hina and S outh A frica) and other emerging power alliances (such as BASIC B razil, S outh A frica, I ndia and C hina and IBSA I ndia, B razil, S outh A frica), as well as multilateral organizations in the A sia‐ P acific and the global south, have become increasingly important players on the world stage. None of the variations on Asian regionalism and emerging power alliances is in itself very influential. Taken together, however, they are not inconsequential for the E uropean U nion ( EU ) and its position on multilateralism. Their views on multilateralism differ from the EU 's vision with regard to contents and methodology. Problematic for the EU is that their views not only structure the relations between the emerging powers themselves, but that these powers also increasingly try to promote them as the basic principles for structuring international relations and regimes on a global level.