ABSTRACT
Observers continue to stress that the BRIC states are a heterogeneous grouping, united more in their economic prowess and large population sizes than in shared values, cultures, or political regimes. The French term bric-à-brac has been used, sometimes in a dismissive way, to describe this motley mixture of political systems, economies, and cultures (cf. Chapter 4). It comes as little surprise then that the stances towards the BRIC as an organization are rather diverse, depending on which state one considers. This is what the present chapter does. It explains the BRIC countries’ stance towards the new grouping, attempting to outline how they perceive the challenges and opportunities, how significant their commitment is to BRIC, and what priorities they associate with the grouping.
