A conference of the so-called BRICS has recently concluded: the world’s “major emerging powers” of Brazil, Russia, India, China and now South Africa. The five nations are deepening their ties and flexing their muscles, which will undoubtedly only grow in the years to come.
The BRICS account for 25% of the world’s land, 40% of its population, 50% of its economic growth, 17% of its economy, 15% of its trade, and 53% of its foreign investment. The five nations are about 44% urbanized. Their economies are growing at a rapid pace: 9% for India, 10% for China, and 7% for Brazil. South Africa, joining the BRICs, is the world’s 31st largest economy (Source: Eurasia Review).
Most analysts believe that China will have, over the next two decades, the largest economic impact on the world of any country. And while eventually China’s population will age and it’s economy will suffer as a result, India’s population demographic is maturing into a large middle class workforce (although not without it’s problems: see this analysis of the distribution of the workforce between the richer but slower growing north vs the poorer, larger, faster growing south). The future of Russia is less certain: it could either boom or bust depending on a great many factors (so, flip a coin and you’ll have as good a chance of being right as any of the current prognosticators will). Brazil’s economy is growing rapidly and while not as large as the other three, it is huge for Latin America and significant for the world. And finally to the satisfaction of Africa comes the newest player: it used to be BRICs (with a lowercase ‘s’) but now South Africa has joined.
The five countries discussed economic coordination, currencies, bilateral trade agreements, and global developments. They are interested in greater global influence. They have ideas about what should be done militarily in the Middle East and North Africa. They are in many ways a counterweight to the G-7. They are feeling very good about themselves.
It is worth noting, of course, that their model for economic development and political involvement in other nations is markedly different from that of the Western powers. They often use a “state capitalism” in which the state is very involved in development. And of course there is a great deal more control and regulation in their societies, and far less openness for Christians. Right now China is undergoing a significant crackdown on dissent.
This likewise has implications for missions. It’s interesting that four of these states – Brazil, India, China, and South Africa – have either a substantial missionary force or missionary desire. In the case of India much of this is focused internally. Brazil is sending missionaries to the Middle East. China’s Christians are growing in influence and I do believe with China’s role in Africa and Asia, it is obvious at least tentmakers (and one day, long term residential missionaries) will eventually be deployed. South Africa has long been sending out missionaries. Russia’s missionary force, at least in terms of Protestant evangelicals, is not as strong as the others.
For those looking for the twenty year future of missions, it’s very important to keep a weather eye out on the missionary doings of these five countries. Since they are prospering economically and their citizens are being welcomed around the world (even and perhaps especially in places where Westerners are not) it seems a foregone conclusion that they could (will?) have a strong impact on the future of missions, and may even be a primary driving force. They will not do missions in the same way we Westerners will do it, nor even in the same way that the current majority world mission force (e.g. Koreans etc) will. Learning how they do missions and forming relationships with their leaders now will bear fruit in effective partnerships later.
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