Multilateral diplomacy helps entities in a coalition identify their common vision and amalgamate their activities in ways that aid them work together regardless of their obvious differences. Modern diplomacy is about common interests and goals, and a shared vision; there are neither permanent friends nor enemies. Even countries at war can still have common grounds to call a ceasefire if the interest of the rival parties converges. Founded upon multilateral diplomacy, the BRICS has demonstrated that the diversity of members of a bloc or coalition should not inhibit the group’s effective functioning. On the contrary greater diversity help identify the necessary complementarities needed for win-win exchanges among the members. This book explains how the soft power of the BRICS members is agglomerating to keep the bloc stronger and why their diversity makes augmenting their capabilities more successful. It follows that very different nations can come together to function effectively as a diplomatic bloc.

Prof. Uwem Essia is an economist with many years of teaching, research, and consulting experience in economics, the management sciences, and related human development fields.