The article is devoted to the XVII BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7, 2025, which took place amid increased international tensions and tariff pressure from the United States. The decisive role of the 2024 summit in Kazan is noted, which emphasized the high status of the BRICS and served as a kind of trigger for expanding cooperation and developing partnerships between the member states. In 2025, Indonesia joined the group as a full member, and 10 more states joined as partner countries. As a result of the Brazilian summit, a Declaration was adopted, which reflected the common positions of the countries on a number of important international issues, the main of which were raised by the author. The document highlights the role of emerging economies in promoting a more equitable international order based on international law. The strengthening of ties and strategic partnership, the growth of mutual investments and mutual settlements in national currencies have been noted between the BRICS countries in recent years, as well as the growing role of the New Development Bank and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement contributing to the development and modernization of the BRICS countries. For the first time, attacks in the Bryansk, Kursk and Voronezh regions of the Russian Federation are openly condemned and the importance of dialogue for resolving international disputes is emphasized. It is noteworthy that for the first time in the Declaration, several paragraphs are devoted to the development of Artificial Intelligence, which provides ample opportunities to strengthen the influence of developing economies in the international arena. The increase in trade duties for a number of BRICS countries by the United States is criticized as contrary to international law. The extraordinary summit of the group, held on September 8 in an online format, was a kind of reaction to such a policy and showed that the countries are ready to prepare a collective response. The article concludes that the tightening of sanctions by the West may turn into deepening mutual cooperation and even greater cohesion of the BRICS countries.

Cultural cooperation is becoming a key domain of BRICS activity. The less politicized nature of such interaction is leading to the active development of cultural diplomacy mechanisms within the grouping. This trend creates opportunities for the broader institutionalization of BRICS interaction formats. The authors of this article hypothesize that cultural diplomacy within

BRICS has become a distinct area of activity, facilitating further economic rapprochement, institutional strengthening of economic relations among the association’s member states, ideological justification for the need to delegate some state sovereignty, and the development of public support for BRICS. Theoretically, the study draws on the ideas of neoinstitutionalism and constructivism, which emphasize the normative, ideological, and symbolic aspects of the emergence of formal institutions. In the context of BRICS enlargement and the increasing diversity of the group’s membership, cultural diplomacy appears not only as a tool for harmonizing this diversity through the formation of a system of shared meanings, but also as a mechanism for the gradual institutionalization of BRICS. The authors’ analysis of BRICS cultural diplomacy demonstrates that the groups countries view it not only as a tool for strengthening mutual understanding between their nations but also take a pragmatic approach to harnessing its potential. Cultural interaction is closely linked to shared economic objectives of enhancing BRICS competitiveness, a unified approach to global order, and a desire to uphold the idea of cultural and civilizational diversity. The authors found that the various areas of cultural diplomacy (cinema diplomacy, fashion diplomacy, museum diplomacy, and gastrodiplomacy) are not disparate cultural sub-spheres, but rather a set of interconnected, economically beneficial areas that highlight the cultural richness of each BRICS country. Major events organized through cultural diplomacy, in addition to promoting traditional agendas, help attract investment and strengthen business ties within the BRICS space. It appears that this symbiosis of culture and economics serves the interests of the BRICS countries. The development of cultural diplomacy institutions in this context creates a platform for the institutionalization of communication formats within BRICS in new areas.

Initially economically oriented, the BRICS group is gradually integrating cultural interaction into its agenda. Currently, researchers note the insufficient institutionalization and conceptualization of this area, pointing to its fragmented nature. An examination of official documents reveals an emerging concept of cultural security, interpreted as a multifaceted definition related to the protection of cultural heritage and cultural identity. A content analysis of declarations and agreements demonstrates that the key structural elements of cultural security within BRICS include combating the illegal trafficking of cultural property and the protection and safeguarding of heritage sites. Political rhetoric is evolving from an emphasis on civilizational differences to historical memory and justice, which may indicate an emerging securitization of the cultural agenda, where disinformation and hate speech are identified with external threats.

Amid the consolidation of polycentricity and the politicization of international sports, Russia, faced with unprecedented external pressure, is urgently seeking strategic opportunities to strengthen its sovereignty in this area. The article examines the role of the BRICS as a key actor in the formation of a transregional sports ecosystem. The authors propose a multi-layered model of sports sovereignty encompassing infrastructural, regulatory, promotional, and foreign policy aspects. Through the prism of this model, the evolution of the BRICS Games and the specifics of the participating countries’ sports diplomacy are analyzed. Particular attention is paid to the interests and actions of Russia, for which this format is becoming a tool for countering sanctions, promoting national sports, and strengthening soft power. The Games are viewed as a platform for the joint development of traditional and innovative disciplines, cultural branding, and the formation of alternative international norms. The conclusion substantiates the need for further institutionalization of sports cooperation within BRICS to strengthen the sovereign capabilities of Russia and its partners.

This article presents the results of an empirical study conducted through expert interviews which purpose was to identify the challenges and prospects of science diplomacy within BRICS. The sample (n = 15) included experts engaged in international relations studies, regional and country studies, science, diplomacy and innovation studies. An analysis of the empirical data revealed that the key challenges to implementing science diplomacy within BRICS are a lack of common agenda for scientific interactions, vague social representations of scientists about each other, a lack of resources. At the same time, the association has certain potential to respond to these challenges. BRICS has science diplomacy political and legal framework, scientific communication platforms, development finance institution. According to expert interviews, prospects for developing science diplomacy within the association include identifying and establishing areas of common interest, furthering scientists’ understanding of each other’s national scientific cultures, enhancing the New Development Bank’s role in funding joint research initiatives. Science diplomacy is based on cooperation and competition dialectics. Specifying issues of common interest can ensure a balance between them in the practice of science diplomacy within the association. Strengthening informal ties between scientists can contribute to mutual understanding among BRICS countries at the societal level.

The article analyzes the current state and prospects of educational cooperation within the BRICS framework. The authors emphasize that such interaction is based on the recognition of education as a key right and a factor in sustainable development, as well as a tool for countering disinformation. A key trend is the focus of professional education on labor market needs. The article also notes significant challenges: the dominance of «Global North» approaches, language and logistical barriers, sanctions restrictions, and asymmetric access to technology. Digitalization and AI, while mitigating some barriers, are creating new challenges in the areas of ethics and digital competencies. Priority areas of cooperation include the development of multilingualism and educational resources in national languages, academic mobility, mutual recognition of qualifications, joint research, and the creation of a unified digital educational environment. It is concluded that deepening educational and scientific-technical integration within BRICS contributes to strengthening the humanitarian sovereignty of member countries, creates a talent pool, and lays the foundation for sustainable development in a multipolar world.

The research aims to examine the evolution and key trends of collaboration within the BRICS and BRICS+ blocs during 2020–2025, emphasizing geopolitical, economic, social environmental, and security dimensions. This research is significant for understanding the role of social architecture in BRICS (BRICS+) cooperation in order to facilitate trust, knowledge sharing, and coordinated decision-making, providing a foundation for sustainable and resilient collaboration, inspiring future researches. The study examines how BRICS expansion, internal dynamics of the BRICS Big Three (China, India, Russia), and post-2022 geopolitical shifts influence cooperation patterns and global governance. Methodologically, it employs a structured bibliometric approach guided by the PRISMA framework. Using the Dimensions database, 500 publications from 2020-2025 were identified, with 495 relevant documents retained after screening. Analysis in RStudio using the bibliometrix package enabled citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence mapping, and visualization of collaboration networks across authors, institutions, and countries. Findings reveal strengthening economic and financial cooperation, growing focus on sustainable development and green technologies, expansion of digital trade, de-dollarization initiatives, and cross-border payment platforms. Security cooperation remains flexible, emphasizing cybersecurity, anti-piracy operations, and the BRICS STI initiative. China, India, and Russia are the primary drivers of BRICS-related scientific output. Development of social architecture underpins these trends, enhancing coordination, trust, and resilience. The study concludes BRICS cooperation is increasingly interdisciplinary and strategic. Social architecture, alongside technological innovation, environmental governance, and institutional reforms, forms the foundation of future development. Coordinated action may enable BRICS+ countries to become global leaders in sustainability, South-South innovation exchange, and economic multipolarity.