Reference Policy Models of China, India, Brazil, and South Africa in the Information and Telecommunications Sphere as Components of the BRICS Symbiotic Strategy

In the context of growing global geopolitical competition and the transformation of the world order, the task of strengthening collective sovereignty in the information and telecommunications sphere (ITCS) is becoming critically important for BRICS. This article addresses the scientific problem of harmonizing the diverse national policies of Russia’s key partner countries on integration in the information and telecommunications sphere (ITCS). The theoretical basis of the study is the concepts of digital sovereignty developed in the works of V.A. Nikonov and co-authors, and T. Day’s theories of state sectoral policy. The aim is to justify the strategy of complementary partnership as the most optimal approach to cooperation in conditions of heterogeneity. The methodology is based on a comparative analysis of four reference models – from China, India, Brazil, and South Africa – in accordance with A. Lijphart’s approach. The scientific novelty lies in identifying the contradiction between the commonality of the association’s strategic goals and the diversity of its members’ approaches, as well as in conceptualizing synergistic interaction as a mechanism for resolving this contradiction. The analysis found that direct borrowing or unification of policies is difficult to implement. The optimal solution is a flexible combination of the unique strengths of each national model. The findings of the study confirm that diversity of approaches should be viewed not as a barrier, but as a strategic resource for building a sustainable system of collective digital sovereignty for BRICS.