ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on human lives and economies. To combat the pandemic, countries all around the world took steps to limit it, assist individuals in need, and keep their economies afloat. Some countries succeeded in containing the pandemic, while others failed. Effective containment, where achieved, has been attributed to the governments' executive competency, timely pandemic containment measures, and proper utilisation of health care resources and capacity.
Given the pandemic's transnational nature and the World Health Organization's lack of timely action to prevent the spread of disease, multinational organisations like BRICS – a grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – could have played a key role in bolstering the spirit of co-operation and internationalism needed to address the pandemic's challenges. However, BRICS could not take advantage of the opportunity created by the outbreak. It has failed to demonstrate its usefulness as a powerful bloc in global governance despite being a gathering of countries with a significant proportion of the global economy and population. Internal divides, diverse political systems, varying health-care capabilities and resources, and strategic rivalry have all impeded BRICS' ability to play a meaningful role in COVID-19 containment.
