Do Alliances Still Matter in a Multipolar World?

Abstract

This article examines the role of coalitions in U.S. grand strategy and analyzes the extent to which American partnerships influence outcomes in global competition. It also assesses the development of the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) intergovernmental organization, including the implications of the recent accession of Iran, Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. The expansion of BRICS is considered as a potential indicator of change within the current international order. Through a comparative analysis of competition involving the United States, China, BRICS, and U.S.-aligned institutions such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the essay introduces a data-centric approach using a novel alliance power index composed of fifteen indicators. The article concludes by presenting foreign policy considerations related to the role of alliances in managing strategic competition with China over the coming decade.