"For an invented concept the BRICS has made a serious impact on global politics. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa differ greatly from one another, and yet since 2008 they have stood together to form a distinctive and growing force in global politics. The book analyzes the BRICS, from their place in politics to their influence in providing a different perspective to the Western world. Considering the economic and diplomatic implications of the emergence of the powerful group, Cooper explains how it is both a symbol of, and a vehicle for, change in our global system."--Front flap.