Vol 1, No 1 (2025)

The article is devoted to identifying prospects for enhancing competition in cross-border markets of the EAEU, drawing on the experience of BRICS+. To this end, it employs an econometric methodology to examine the most recent trends in international trade of the EAEU and BRICS+ under the sanctions regime in 2023 and 2025. Using trend analysis of official international statistics, the study reveals changes in the state of competition in cross-border markets, as well as in exports and economic growth of the EAEU and BRICS+ between 2023 and 2025. The analysis demonstrates the contradictory effects of sanctions on competition in cross-border markets of the EAEU and BRICS+, reflected in the slowdown of export but an improvement in customs and tariff conditions; in the contraction of exports alongside accelerated economic growth within the EAEU; and in the simultaneous slow-down of economic growth within BRICS+. A model was developed to assess the impact of competition in cross-border markets on exports and economic growth in the EAEU and BRICS+ in 2023 and 2025. This model provided the basis for forecasting export development and the acceleration of economic growth in the EAEU through 2027, contingent on the improvement of cross-border market competition. The study concludes that, unlike international trade under the previous conditions of free trade promoted by the WTO, in today’s environment of global economic deglobalization, the state of competition in cross-border markets, while still significant, plays a much less decisive role in shaping exports and economic growth.

In recent years, BRICS has evolved into a key platform for rethinking the architecture of the global economy. The expansion to the BRICS+ format has enhanced the bloc’s potential by incorporating new centers of economic growth into the international system. Underconditionsofgrowinguncertainty,geo-economicfragmentation,andaccelerateddigitalization,theneedforsustainablemodels of cooperation that can balance the interests of member states has become increasingly urgent. The purpose of this study is to identify institutional and economic-mathematical factors that determine the prospects of BRICS+ as an alternative center of global governance. The methodological framework is based on a comprehensive approach that includes the analysis of macroeconomic indicators, a comparative study of trade and investment flows, institutional mechanisms, as well as scenario modeling of integration trajectories. The results demonstrate that BRICS+ is shaping a new path of international cooperation grounded in the principles of multipolarity, mutual respect, and sustainable development. The article highlights that the most promising areas for deepening cooperation include digital transformation, the transition to settlements in national currencies, and the development of green technologies. It concludes that strengthening the institutional foundations of BRICS+ can not only enhance the competitiveness of member states but also reshape the configuration of the global economic system.

The expansion of BRICS, which in 2024 included countries such as Egypt, Iran, the UAE, and Ethiopia, marked a new stage in the development of the alliance, strengthening its role in the global political and economic system. In the face of increasing international tensions and the fragmentation of the global economy, BRICS has demonstrated its ability to create alternative mechanisms for cooperation based on principles of equality and mutual respect. The Kazan Summit was a historic milestone in the development of the alliance, confirming its ability to adapt to the challenges of the time and attract new partners. The accession of 13 partner countries has not only expanded the geographical and economic boundaries, but also highlighted the need for institutional reforms for more effective management and coordination. The main challenges for further expansion remain some economic and political limitations in the relations between the participating countries, a lack of institutionalization, and limited infrastructure. However, the prospects for the bloc’s development include the creation of an integrated economic space, the development of settlements in national currencies, the strengthening of the role of the New Development Bank, and the formation of new international institutions that could compete with Western structures such as the WTO and the IMF. Through these steps, BRICS has the potential to become not only an economic but also a geopolitical center of the Global South, playing a key role in shaping a multipolar world order.

Amidst a rapidly changing global order, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) has emerged as a distinctive form of international cooperation. Unlike traditional international or regional organizations, or even mini-lateral groupings, BRICS functions as a heterogeneous, consensus-driven platform that emphasizes pluralism, sovereignty, and flexible cooperation without binding treaties or supranational authority. In the context of shifting power dynamics, it represents a new league model of cooperation among emerging powers. Acknowledging this distinctiveness, the article introduces the concept of a ‘Pluralistic Partnership Forum’ to explain the actual working of this organizational form. BRICS uniqueness lies in its diversity across continents, political systems, and economic models, which is further reinforced through ‘BRICS+’. It seeks to offer an alternative to Western-dominated multilateralism by promoting South-South cooperation, advancing development finance through the New Development Bank, and advocating reforms in the global financial architecture. Importantly, BRICS challenges Western monetary dominance, global payment system asymmetries, and the weaponization of the U.S. dollar, while working within the existing order to expand emerging economies’ agency. Understanding BRICS as a ‘Pluralistic Partnership Forum’ provides new analytical insights into the evolution of non-Western multilateralism and underscores its potential as a model for post-Western global cooperation and order-building.

Learning about China’s approach to AI development and implementation is crucial for BRICS+ due to its significant advancements and strategic focus on becoming a global leader in the field. Understanding China’s AI landscape provides valuable insights for international collaboration, competition, and the broader global impact of AI. The importance of the topic is predeter-mined by the following: 1) the geopolitical context; 2) economic component; 3) technological and digital sovereignty; 4) defense and cybersecurity; 5) training of personnel; 6) forming alternative AI norms. The methodology was based on documentary analysis. China’s strategy is assessed along four structuring axes, which can be adopted by BRICS+: 1) computational infrastructure;2) data; 3) specialized workforce; and 4) research and development (R&D). The findings indicate that China distinguishes itself through its pursuit of global AI leadership through massive investments. Beijing is willing to work with BRICS partners to deepen pragmatic cooperation, China open to win-win AI cooperation through Belt & Road. International cooperation of China in the field of AI with the BRICS+ countries in the field of creating a common infrastructure, developing uniform standards and legislation, data exchange, and educational programs will serve as an impetus for the development of AI in the countries of the association.

This article examines the evolving role of BRICS nations in the global energy transition within the context of their expanded membership and growing geopolitical influence. As BRICS has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Indonesia, the bloc now represents approximately 45% of the global population, 28% of global GDP, and 42% of global oil production, making it a significant player in shaping energy policies. The research employs statistical data analysis of energy indicators from 2017-2023 alongside SWOT analysis to assess the current energy landscape and transition trajectories across member states. Findings reveal diverse national energy profiles: China leads in renewable capacity but remains heavily coal-dependent; India shows rapid solar growth targeting 50% non-fossil electricity by 2030; Brazil relies on hydropower while expanding other renewables; and Russia and South Africa demonstrate slower transitions toward cleaner energy sources. Collectively, BRICS nations have nearly doubled their renewable energy capacity since 2017, with increasing emphasis on wind and solar, though fossil fuels still dominate their energy mix. The research concludes that despite challenges including economic disparities, political tensions, and infrastructure deficits, BRICS possesses significant potential to drive global energy transition through enhanced cooperation, technology sharing, and leveraging their collective economic weight to secure necessary financing, provided they balance national circumstances with shared climate commitments.

In complex and multi-layered musical cultures from different regions of the world, it is not easy to identify phenomena that have represented the most complete repository of their characteristic features over a long period of time. The tradition of orchestral music-making, known as gamelan, can be attributed to such phenomena. It is one of the key, defining phenomena not only of Indonesia and the Southeast Asian region, but also of world musical culture as a whole. In this article, we sought to identify the main essence of Javanese music by analyzing the terminological array that has developed within the gamelan tradition, considered in a systematic-typological comparison both within Indonesian musical culture and in relation to other regions. Let us begin by considering the most important and general concept for any musical culture, “music” (at least in the sense in which it is used within Western civilization), which includes all phenomena related to the field of sound, tone, and sound creation in general. Neither Indonesian nor Javanese languages have developed such a general term. The term musik (from the Dutch musiek), which appeared at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, is used exclusively in relation to Western music, and only for academic music, while the term pop is used to refer to popular forms. This emphasized, on the one hand, the influence of contemporary Western pop culture on popular forms of music-making prevalent in Indonesian cities (particularly noticeable since the early 1960s) and, on the other hand, the features of their distinct identity, which make it easy to distinguish this music from Western music.

In the context of contemporary ideological explorations concerning the transitional nature of the post-globalization era and the shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world order, a number of Chinese thinkers are “re-developing” the concept of Tianxia (“All Under Heaven”), drawing on the historical and cultural roots of the nation. This concept, rooted in ancient Chinese philosophies such as Confucianism, is intended not only to guide the strategic development of modern China, but also to serve as a framework for international communication. Prominent among these thinkers are Zhao Tingyang, Xu Jilin, Zhang Weiwei, as well as the anthropologist Fei Xiaotong. The central challenges they address include the tension between the universal and the particular, especially the relationship between China and other global powers (i. e., the national versus the universal), as well as the dynamics between the state, society, and the individual within the PRC. This study identifies the unresolved issues that arise within the framework of Tianxia as articulated by these authors. It also draws a parallel with the Russian intellectual tradition, where similar tensions between the national and the universal were debated by the Westernizers and Slavophiles, and reflected in the works of F.M. Dostoevsky, V.S. Solovyov, L. Tolstoy, and L. Trotsky. The paper observes how global processes influence the development of education, particularly in China, where efforts are being made to resist the homogenizing effects of globalization. It is argued that a depoliticized interpretation of Tianxia may offer productive insights for the development of a national education system in the PRC. Drawing on the principles of Tianxia , several Chinese scholars propose that global higher education should not be treated as a domain of competition, but rather as a space for mutually beneficial cooperation.