Are we living in a fool’s paradise? While we fixate on petty nothings, a vision of another world is coalescing. We may not even realise that world is here until it is too late.
China ready for war as Xi visits army
Are we living in a fool's paradise? While we fixate on petty nothings, a vision of another world is coalescing. We may not even realise that world is here until it is too late.
A curious scene played out in Australia earlier this week. As King Charles addressed the Australian Parliament, Lidia Thorpe, a senatorA politician who has been elected to a body called a Senate. In the US, one of the two houses of Congress is the Senate. Ancient Rome also had a senate and senators. and AboriginalIndigenous or existing in a land before the arrival of colonisers. Australian, shouted at him: "This is not your land, you are not my King".
For many, it cut a tragicomicSomething that is both sad and funny. image: the ageing king heckled in one of the last corners of a long-dead empire.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, a new empire was being built in the Russian city of KazanAn industrial city in Russia's west. It is the capital of the Tatar Autonomous Republic. , where more than 20 heads of state from the BRICSShort for the five largest emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. However, the group has recently expanded and now includes countries that are not in the acronym, such as Egypt and the UAE. group of emerging economies are meeting.
Among them are Indian prime minister Narendra ModiThe prime minister of India. He inspires passionate support from many in his country, but his critics regard him as populist, anti-Muslim and authoritarian., Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian - and, at the centre of it all, China's Xi JinpingThe president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life..
The group has powerful economic potential: it represents 45% of the world population and 28% of the global economy.1
China especially is even starting to compete with the US in the area where it has reigned supreme for decades: high-tech innovation.2
The country is also flexing its military muscles all over: carrying out drills in the Taiwan StraitPart of the South China Sea, separating Taiwan from mainland China. , raising the readiness of its army and expanding its supply of nuclear weapons.3
The alliance is also benefiting from US missteps. Dithering over additional military support for Ukraine has made it seem to some like an unreliable allyA country that has agreed to support another one. . Others claim it does not act as a fair and unbiased judge in global affairs.4
In contrast, China is promising to protect the sovereigntyThe authority of a state to govern itself, or sometimes another state. of the Global South - even if they use it to oppressCrush somebody's spirits and freedoms with power. their own people.5
Some fear this all adds up to a new age where China rules. But others say this is a fantasy. BRICS, they argue, is not a true alliance.
The only thing that unites them is a desire to change the rules of the game. But their own internal rivalries might intervene and pull apart their alliance.
Are we living in a fool's paradise?
Yes: Across the world, a coalition is forming that promises to overturn the international order and take away the West's power. The US, bogged down abroad and fractured at home, is in no position to resist.
No: This is an alliance of has-beens and backsliding democracies. They hate each other as much as they hate the West. Their group is going nowhere.
Or... BRICS supremacy is far from a done deal. But if the US keeps making mistakes - for example, if it re-elects Donald Trump next month - then the world may simply fall into the group's lap.
Keywords
Senator - A politician who has been elected to a body called a Senate. In the US, one of the two houses of Congress is the Senate. Ancient Rome also had a senate and senators.
Aboriginal - Indigenous or existing in a land before the arrival of colonisers.
Tragicomic - Something that is both sad and funny.
Kazan - An industrial city in Russia's west. It is the capital of the Tatar Autonomous Republic.
BRICS - Short for the five largest emerging economies - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. However, the group has recently expanded and now includes countries that are not in the acronym, such as Egypt and the UAE.
Narendra Modi - The prime minister of India. He inspires passionate support from many in his country, but his critics regard him as populist, anti-Muslim and authoritarian.
Xi Jinping - The president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life.
Taiwan Strait - Part of the South China Sea, separating Taiwan from mainland China.
Ally - A country that has agreed to support another one.
Sovereignty - The authority of a state to govern itself, or sometimes another state.
Oppress - Crush somebody's spirits and freedoms with power.
China ready for war as Xi visits army
Glossary
Senator - A politician who has been elected to a body called a Senate. In the US, one of the two houses of Congress is the Senate. Ancient Rome also had a senate and senators.
Aboriginal - Indigenous or existing in a land before the arrival of colonisers.
Tragicomic - Something that is both sad and funny.
Kazan - An industrial city in Russia's west. It is the capital of the Tatar Autonomous Republic.
BRICS - Short for the five largest emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. However, the group has recently expanded and now includes countries that are not in the acronym, such as Egypt and the UAE.
Narendra Modi - The prime minister of India. He inspires passionate support from many in his country, but his critics regard him as populist, anti-Muslim and authoritarian.
Xi Jinping - The president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life.
Taiwan Strait - Part of the South China Sea, separating Taiwan from mainland China.
Ally - A country that has agreed to support another one.
Sovereignty - The authority of a state to govern itself, or sometimes another state.
Oppress - Crush somebody's spirits and freedoms with power.