Day 2. VII BRICS International School
The BRICS International School second day has started with an ice-breaking session, facilitated by Marina Belousova, Director of Human Resources, Business Trainer, Master Of Pedagogy, Cross Cultural Communication Specialist, MBA. The participants have applied non-verbal communication technique under her supervision. The students formed groups based on culture they belong to. Students were suggested to answer a question “What sources of information can you suggest to better understand your culture?” They shared with the colleges the most interesting and unique parts of their cultures. They talked about films, books, food, travel, music and art. “We learned a lot about residents of the BRICS countries”, shared the impression one of the participants. Students have concluded that Brazilians are hardworking people who don't make a problem bigger than it really is. Representatives of India mentioned that there are 15 languages in the country, none of which are official. Chinese are believed to be loyal, respectful, calm. Students from South Africa talked about Ubuntu, which means “people are who they are”. South Africans are perceived to love dance and music. The participants have summarized that during the session they have managed to discover more issues of joint interests and topics for cultural discussions.
On November 14, the Official opening of the International BRICS School takes place. Vyacheslav Nikonov, Chairman of the Board of the National Committee on BRICS research, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs of the Russian Federation has addressed the participants as a keynote speaker. He has focused on the changes the global world is going through, “it is historic time, when the world is changing, and changing rapidly, what is now happening in Ukraine, what is now happening in the Middle East, it all speeds up history, it changes the direction of development of the human race, I think for the decades, maybe centuries to come”. According to the keynote speaker, a lot of terms and perceptions are becoming outdated or sound discriminative, for example, the division to the “first world and “third world”, “developed” and “developing” countries, the term “liberal rules-based order” is questionable, the term “Global South” excludes Russia, since Russia is the Northern country. “We used to live for decades, even for centuries, in the Western paradigm, we were using Western terms, we were using the Western system of coordinates”, adds Vyacheslav Nikonov. What is on demand today, is decolonization of all types, including decolonization of mind. According to the speaker, ”What can we do in terms of decolonization of the minds, equal decolonization, we should use another language, and we should have our own values, which are the BRICS values, the values of the global majority, and these are the values of people rights, and of all nations and all people living on Earth; this is a multipolar world, an equalized for all countries, and each state”. All countries which are in BRICS are strong enough to be heard internationally, but together they are much stronger, and more powerful. “Desire to achieve consensus on major international issue, this is what BRICS is doing, we are good enough in promoting consensus inside BRICS-5, sometimes it’s hard, and we know this… I think it would be even harder to do it with 11, or even with 30, or 45, but it’s something that should be done, because you need to compromise with the others, not just impose your point to the others”, concluded Vyacheslav Nikonov.
During the opening session Igbal Guliyev, Deputy Director of International Institute for Energy Policy and Diplomacy, MGIMO, has greeted the members of the BRICS school, emphasizing the openness of the Institute to international cooperation with counterparts from BRICS countries taking into account the increasing importance of energy issues and skills in energy diplomacy for young generation of leaders and diplomats. The institute is the unique institution in Russia providing this kind of knowledge.
The plenary discussion "BRICS: New Challenges in The Era of Global Development" focuses on the risk assessment for BRICS and appropriate responses to emerging risks and challenges.
Nirmala Gopal, Associate Professor Department of Criminology and Forensic Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) raised the issue of security in cyber space, quite crucial for each BRICS country. The speaker has mentioned that only India has well-developed cyber security system. Brazil, for example is the most vulnerable Latin American country in the face of cyber-attacks. And South Africa does not have enough experience in the field. It means that experience exchange and joint approach for BRICS countries is on need. “We as BRICS countries should support each other to avoid duplicating resources”, has stressed the speaker. BRICS should be proactive, rather than reactive on issues of cyber security and cybercrimes.
Professor Wu Fei, Director of the Institute of Eurasian studies (China) has focused on the role of think tanks researching various areas of BRICS functioning and development. Professor Wu Fei has emphasized that the voice of regional think tanks should be taken into account, but not only of those located in capitals. It is fair for China and India. The regional think tanks can make a valuable contribution to BRICS research, regular dialogue, conferences; joint publications are on demand, as well as more content not only from capitals but on regional level.
Beulah Shekhar, Chair Professor of Criminology, Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan (LNJN) & National Institute of Criminology & Forensic Science (NISFS) has underlined the importance of people-to-people ties, rather than only government-to-government communication, to introduce bottom-up approach rather than doing just what the governments are saying. Diversity is the main challenge for BRICS countries, and it should be respected and studied on civil society level.
Professor Irina Yarygina, Academic Director of the National Committee on BRICS research chaired the session.
The next session discusses priorities and strategic areas for scientific, technological and innovative cooperation for BRICS countries.
Vladimir Korovkin, Associate professor, Head of the Digital Transformation Laboratory, Moscow School of Management Skolkovo, has analyzed how technical cooperation is evolving in the XXI century, emphasizing the role of new technology both as a driver and manifestation of deep social change. “The one cannot be successful in the 2020s with institutional structures and discourse of the 20th century. Effectively exploring the new technology agenda by BRICS countries in the post-2022 context is about platforms and markets, not committees and memoranda”, has concluded the speaker.
Mikhail Bitch, Associate Professor, Department of World Economy and World Finance, Faculty of International Economic Relations, Financial University Under the Government of The Russian Federation explained how cryptocurrency and bitcoin work as the 21st century instruments of investment. It provides new opportunities for investors. Blockchain tech provides decentralizations and reduce dependance on traditional financial institutions and provide financial inclusion for people from remote regions who does not have access to traditional banking service. Cryptocurrency market is constantly evolving. The assets will grow, and investors will be able to get profit. The speaker equally highlighted the risks of this type of assets which are mainly political.
Ivan Danilin, Head of the Department of Science and Innovation, Head of the Innovation Policy Sector, IMEMO, outlined that the importance of digital technologies and markets in international relations and world politics is growing, as well as the need of cooperations in the field. The speaker has discussed advantages and disadvantages of various models of technological cooperation in the current global circumstances. BRICS is still developing, and in process of “structuring”, as well as platforms for cooperation within it.
Lydia Kulik, Head of India Studies at the Skolkovo Institute for Emerging Markets, Research Fellow at RAS Institute of Oriental Studies, highlighted India’s experience in digital technology and defined the most prospect spheres for technological cooperation between India and Russia and among all BRICS countries such as energy efficiency, new materials, smart cities, transport infrastructure modernization, education, advanced training of personnel, water supply, cooperation in nuclear energy sector, expansion cooperation in the Arctic region, agriculture.
After the keynotes, a fruitful discussion with young participants followed. The participants have come to conclusion that education in digital sphere is on high demand in the modern world, though there is still lack of education on digital technology. Considering that the young generation are creators of new upcoming reality, this gap in education should be bridged.
The day has ended with the lecture on public diplomacy in the era of global crisis, given by Alexander Konkov, Associate Professor, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and Roman Chukov, Chairman of the Board, Center for International Promotion, Assistant Director for Youth Policy, Roscongress Foundation. Alexander Konkov has reminded that public diplomacy is an inclusive diplomacy of equal. We usually perceive BRICS as a society of official diplomacy, summit agenda, memorandums. According to the speaker, the task is to multiply the horizontal ties– and public diplomacy is the right instrument for it. The emerging leaders are invited to provide ideas for BRICS+ people-to-people formats and public diplomacy initiatives, activities, instruments. Roman Chuckov has commented on passed BRICS Youth summit in Kazan as an example of youth diplomacy as well as on plans on youth diplomacy track during the upcoming Russia’s 2024 BRICS Chairmanship. During the Q&A session participants have discussed the instrument of digital diplomacy, and its efficiency in the new era as a complementary element to traditional diplomacy.
Press service
National Committee on BRICS Research