Assessment of the digital potential of the BRICKS countries in the formation of the new geopolitical order

The relevance of the research is determined by increasing trends in the changing landscape of the global economy and the redistribution of forces of economic influence between developed and developing countries. In this context, it is necessary to assess the digital potential of developing countries in order to determine the possibilities for their future development and achievement of global leadership. The purpose of the study is to analyze the specifics of the BRICS countries’ digital development at the current stage, which is characterized by a high level of turbulence, and to identify the areas of public policy that will help them build their digital potential. Research objectives are to analyze the main indicators that characterize the BRICS countries’ digital potential, to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the BRICS countries’ digital potential and their position in the global economy, to identify the areas of public policy that contribute to building the BRICS countries’ digital potential in the global landscape. The authors evaluated the available digital potential of the BRICS countries and also carried out a comparative analysis of their capabilities with the potential of the most developed countries under conditions of external turbulence. It was revealed that the digital potential of the BRICS countries is lower than that of the most developed countries due to weaker digital infrastructure, but increasing digital activity in times of turbulence opens up new opportunities for them to realize their potential. The implementation of public policy in key areas of digital development will help align the BRICS integration association with the group of developed countries and may be the beginning of a new stage in the reconfiguration of the global economy.