Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. BrICs is a sham...India will never be a partner to China. India is on India's side, and good for them. South Africa is a collapsing country that can't keep the power on. Brazil, like India, is on Brazil's side and has to constantly contend with the big bully on the block.

Regardless, empires are just systems that use energy. Systems that do that more efficiently or countries that have more access to that energy will win out in the end. There will always be empires rising and falling...although falling will be the theme for the next couple of centuries.