The New Dynamic in South-East Asia: Malaysia and Thailand’s Brics+ Ambitions
South-east Asia is experiencing a significant shift in geopolitical dynamics as Malaysia and Thailand express interest in joining the Brics+ alliance, a coalition originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The Brics+ group has expanded recently to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates, adding weight to its economic and political influence on the global stage. This alliance now represents over 40 percent of the world’s population and stands as a potential counterbalance to Western dominance.
The Expansion of Brics+
Brics+ is not just an economic bloc but a collective pushing for deep collaboration across various sectors, including education. The recent establishment of the Brics+ Universities Association (BUA) with 148 member institutions from 35 countries exemplifies this. The BUA fosters student exchanges and joint research initiatives, aiming to create a knowledge-sharing platform that can uplift scientific and technological capabilities across member states. The successful 3rd Brics TVET Institution Presidents Forum held in May 2024 further demonstrated their commitment to building a robust workforce.
The Asean Perspective
Malaysia and Thailand’s interest in Brics+ comes at a crucial juncture. Malaysia, set to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in 2025, now faces the complex task of integrating its new partnerships with its existing regional commitments. Asean, an established regional organization focused on economic growth, social progress, and cultural development, has its own educational initiatives like the Asean University Network (AUN) and the Asean Skills Development Programme (TVET).
While Brics+ emphasizes a research-driven approach to education, Asean promotes educational integration and regional identity, focusing on "soft skills" like critical thinking and intercultural understanding vital for South-east Asia’s diverse socio-cultural landscape. Asean’s framework thrives on a mix of government and private sector initiatives, while Brics+ relies more heavily on government funding channeled through centralized platforms like the BUA.
Potential Conflicts and Synergies
A major concern is the potential for Brics+ to dilute Asean’s efforts by diverting resources or creating parallel systems that could fragment regional cooperation. Established Asean programs have fostered collaboration for years, and disruption to these could undermine the progress made. Balancing these new affiliations with existing commitments will require careful diplomacy to ensure that Brics+ initiatives complement, rather than compete with, Asean’s educational frameworks.
Navigating the Future
The next five years will be critical in determining whether Malaysia and Thailand can effectively bridge their engagements with Brics+ and Asean. A key figure in this diplomatic balancing act is Datin Sarah Nava Rani Al-Bakri Devadason, Malaysia’s recently appointed permanent representative to Asean. Her expertise will be crucial in harmonizing the goals of these two influential blocs.
By effectively merging the research strengths of Brics+ with the soft skill focus and regional integration efforts of Asean, South-east Asia has the potential to offer a holistic educational landscape for its students. This synergistic approach could make the region a formidable entity in global educational and economic spheres.
Navigating this intricate geopolitical landscape will demand deft diplomacy and collaborative strategy, but the rewards—in terms of enhanced educational standards and stronger regional cooperation—could be immense.
