BRICS vs. Soviet Union: How a United Bloc Surpasses the Cold War Superpower

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• Diverse Economies: Unlike the Soviet Union, which relied on a centrally planned economy with inherent inefficiencies, BRICS encompasses a range of economic models — from China’s mixed socialist economy to India and Brazil’s market-driven economies. This economic diversity allows BRICS to operate within global markets, making them more adaptable and resilient​. ​The Explained Post United States Institute of Peace
• Resource and Energy Control: With new members like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Russia, BRICS controls over 40% of global oil production, something the Soviet Union never achieved. This dominance over energy resources gives BRICS unparalleled leverage in global energy markets, affecting oil prices, supply chains, and energy security for the rest of the world​. The Explained Post IISS
• Control over Natural Resources: In addition to oil, BRICS nations, particularly Brazil, South Africa, and Russia, are major players in agriculture, mining, and rare earth elements — essential for technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy. This gives BRICS an edge in industrial and technological sectors where the Soviet Union struggled. IISS NATO Association of Canada

• Technological Leadership: These advancements make BRICS a much more versatile technological bloc than the Soviet Union ever was.Technological Leadership: While the Soviet Union had technological breakthroughs, particularly in the space and military sectors, BRICS (led by China and India) excels in commercial technologies. China is a global leader in AI, 5G, electric vehicles, and digital infrastructure, while India is a major player in IT and software development.​ The Explained Post United States Institute of Peace
• Research and Development: BRICS nations have the potential to collaborate across various technological fields, using resources and markets that far exceed what the Soviet Union had. Through joint R&D, BRICS could surpass Western-led innovation ecosystems, particularly in energy, digital technologies, and AI.

• Greater Geopolitical Reach: While the Soviet Union primarily led the Warsaw Pact as a military alliance, BRICS is not a formal military bloc but has substantial military cooperation across Russia, China, India, and potentially Iran and Saudi Arabia. Russia and China already conduct regular military exercises and arms trade, giving BRICS members a strong foundation for future defense collaboration . The Explained Post
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO): Unlike the Soviet Union, BRICS countries have established multilateral platforms like the SCO, which includes military cooperation and counterterrorism efforts. This structure allows BRICS members to coordinate more effectively on security issues beyond just military alliances . The Explained Post
• Non-Traditional Military Partners: The addition of countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia, which have strong regional military capabilities, gives BRICS a more diverse and flexible military presence than the Soviet Union ever had. With Russia’s nuclear arsenal, China’s expanding military footprint, and Saudi Arabia’s advanced defense technology purchases, BRICS nations collectively have the potential to challenge Western military dominance in certain regions . United States Institute of Peace

• A Multipolar World Vision: The Soviet Union’s influence was restricted to the Eastern Bloc and a few allied states. BRICS, however, represents a multi-polar vision that seeks to reshape global governance. It has the potential to challenge Western-led institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and UN Security Council, especially with the growing influence in the Global South . The Explained Post United States Institute of Peace

• Strategic Regional Influence: BRICS nations have significant influence in key regions across the globe — China in East Asia, Russia in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, India in South Asia, Brazil in Latin America, and now Saudi Arabia and Iran in the Middle East. This broad geographical spread gives BRICS the ability to project soft power and diplomacy in regions the Soviet Union struggled to maintain. ​NATO Association of Canada

• Non-Ideological Unity: While the Soviet Union’s alliances were driven by communist ideology, BRICS has no such ideological rigidity. It is a pragmatic bloc, focused on economic cooperation and geopolitical influence rather than imposing a political system. This flexibility allows BRICS to include countries with vastly different political systems (democracies like Brazil and India alongside authoritarian states like China and Russia), making it a more adaptable and inclusive coalition than the Soviet Union. ​The Explained Post NATO Association of Canada

• Demographic Power: BRICS collectively represents over 45% of the world’s population — a much larger demographic influence than the Soviet Union or NATO. This large population provides BRICS with a huge labour force and market for goods, services, and technological innovation, something the Soviet Union, with its closed economic model, never capitalized on. ​The Explained Post