Introduction: Analyzing the BRICS+ and Gulf Cooperation Council Countries

This edited volume explores the evolving role of BRICS+, an expanded coalition that now includes key Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations. The expansion marks a significant shift in global power dynamics and reflects the growing demand from the Global South for a more inclusive and equitable system of global governance. The book examines the multifaceted dimensions of BRICS+ cooperation—from economic partnerships to diplomatic coordination—while highlighting the group’s institutional development and its efforts to reshape international norms. It addresses important gaps in public policy and international relations literature by analyzing BRICS+ and GCC countries together, challenging methodological nationalism, and advancing Global South perspectives on key concepts such as diplomacy and soft power. This introductory chapter traces the historical evolution of the group—from BRIC to BRICS and now BRICS+—and compares it with other international forums such as the G7, G20, and GCC. It also outlines the group’s modus operandi, introduces the core concepts used throughout the volume, and concludes with an overview of the book’s structure and content.