To understand the role China plays in a new international order rising against Western hegemony, it is essential to examine China’s foreign policy approach and its evolution after 1949, which laid the groundwork for the institutionalization of BRICS. With the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, under Mao Zedong’s leadership, China adopted a foreign policy shaped by the principles of national independence and support for socialist struggles worldwide. During the Mao era, China positioned itself on the global stage as an independent power, centering its anti-imperialist and revolutionary discourse.
The Mao Era: Anti-Imperialism and Revolutionary Struggles
An important aspect here is the transformation in Sino-Soviet relations.
Despite initially strong relations with the Soviet Union, Mao Zedong’s foreign policy concept underwent a shift, marked by ideological and strategic divergence. This divergence became apparent by the late 1950s, driven by several key reasons:
First, Mao strongly criticized the Soviet Union’s “peaceful coexistence” policy, which he perceived as a limitation on Moscow’s confrontation with the West and its commitment to combating imperialism. Mao emphasized revolutionary struggle against the West and criticized the Soviet Union’s reluctance to lead the international socialist movement. This led China to establish its independent revolutionary course, positioning itself as a third path between the West and the Soviet Union.
The second major point was Mao’s reaction to the Soviet Union’s “de-Stalinization” process. Khrushchev’s policies, which criticized Stalin’s legacy and shifted towards a softer governance approach—especially after the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union—were seen by Mao as ideological weakness and betrayal of Marxist-Leninist ideals. He accused Khrushchev and the Soviet leadership of abandoning revolutionary principles and sought to position China as the custodian of “revolutionary purity.” This ideological split turned into a leadership struggle over the international communist movement and led China to chart a course independent of Soviet influence.
In this context, Mao’s critique of “peaceful coexistence” and de-Stalinization laid the foundation for China to present itself as an independent leader for the “Third World” countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The 1955 Bandung Conference was a significant milestone where China demonstrated this leadership claim.
The conference symbolized China’s solidarity with nations struggling against colonialism. Zhou Enlai’s previously articulated “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence,” discussed during his meeting with an Indian counterpart, were included in the conference’s final declaration. By challenging the power balance between the West and the Soviet Union, China forged cooperation with nations seeking independent development and national sovereignty.
Deng Xiaoping Era: Pragmatism and Economic Growth
The Deng Xiaoping era brought pragmatic transformations in China’s foreign policy, focusing on economic growth. Relations with the United States and the West became the “key point” whereas during the Mao era, the emphasis was on oppressed countries. Deng’s “Reform and Opening Up” policies integrated China into globalization and strengthened ties with Western markets. His international approach was less ideological and more centered on economic power. Deng’s “hide your strength, bide your time” strategy quietly enabled China to assume a stronger international role, contributing to increasing liberalization and alignment with the West through the 1990s and into the Hu Jintao era in the 2000s. At the 16th Party Congress in 2006, however, state-centric policies regained prominence.
The Xi Jinping Era: A New Synthesis
The Xi Jinping era of the 2010s can be seen as a synthesis of Mao’s and Deng’s legacies. Xi has reinforced China’s claim to international leadership (especially for developing nations) and ideological rhetoric. Xi’s foreign policy vision, shaped by the “China Dream“, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and BRICS, underscores this synthesis.
This historical background paved the way for the establishment of BRICS and similar frameworks like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). China’s tradition of offering ideological and strategic alternatives to oppressed nations is reflected in BRICS’ foundational principles. BRICS has emerged as a platform resisting Western hegemony by fostering economic and political cooperation, inspired by Mao’s revolutionary leadership vision to meet the independence aspirations of the Global South.
Toward a Multipolar and Fair World Order
Themes like economic cooperation, financial independence, and the promotion of multilateralism have allowed BRICS to serve as a resistance center against Western financial exploitation, particularly dollarization.
In summary, China’s deviation from the Soviet path, its establishment of ideological independence, and its efforts to provide independent international leadership for the Global South have been instrumental in BRICS’ formation. The trajectory from Mao to Xi underscores China’s rise and BRICS’ potential to establish an alternative order to Western hegemony. Under China’s leadership, BRICS and other multilateral frameworks not only promote economic cooperation but also represent a structural shift toward a more equitable international order benefiting developing nations. This marks one of the most significant developments shaping this century.
BRICS, through its founding objectives and economic-political structures, has become an essential platform challenging the unipolar order that kept world nations dependent on the imperialist-capitalist system. The Western-centric global system, particularly for developing countries, was shaped by debt dependency, unilateral trade agreements, and policies imposed through international financial institutions. In this context, BRICS’ alternative model offers a promising direction for countries seeking to escape dependency relations.
The rise of state-centric economic models within BRICS provides a significant basis for implementing development plans that benefit the public. Instead of surrendering to market forces, this model embraces strategic and planned development, contributing to reducing inequality and development gaps.
BRICS’ efforts to create a fairer and more human-centered world order challenge the so-called “rules-based international order” that primarily protects American hegemony and Western privileges. This order, as highlighted in BRICS’ founding philosophy, is characterized by “unilateral interventions, coercive economic sanctions, and interference in the internal affairs of nation-states.” In contrast, BRICS rejects the unipolarity of the U.S.-centered international system, creating a foundation for a multipolar, human-centered, and win-win world order. This “win-win” philosophy—ensuring the interests of all parties—offers a concrete expression of the aspiration for a more equitable world order, particularly for developing nations and representatives of the Global South, including our own country.
This article is retrieved from a video-event organized by Teori Journal.
Source
