DOI: 10.3897/brics-econ.7.e176467

Authors: Lilia Valitova, Marina Sheresheva, Dmitry Oskin

Abstract: This paper examines the fragmentation of global science and the changing role of the BRICS countries in international research collaboration under geopolitical pressure. Using bibliometric analysis of more than 688,000 semiconductor-related publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (1965–2025), the study traces how the imposition of sanctions since 2022 has transformed global co-authorship networks. The findings demonstrate a structural shift from a previously integrated international scientific system toward a constellation of regional clusters. China has consolidated its position as the central node of the global publication network, assuming integrative functions once held by the United States and the European Union. India has increased its connectivity, strengthening ties within BRICS and with the Global South. Russia’s role has markedly declined following the suspension of collaboration with Western institutions, accompanied by a drop in joint publications. At the same time, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have emerged as new peripheral hubs, reflecting a reallocation of scientific collaboration toward countries not affected by sanction regimes. Network-metric analysis (degree, betweenness, closeness, and eigenvector centrality) confirms the polarization of the international research system. Sanctions have weakened traditional nodes while fostering new centers of influence within BRICS and the Global South. The paper concludes that sanctions have accelerated the regionalization of global science, transforming the semiconductor research landscape from a unified global network into multiple interconnected regional systems, each with its own core and sphere of influence.

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DOI: 10.3897/brics-econ.4.e101050

Authors: Mohamad Zreik

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on China in terms of both health and economic crises and to provide an in-depth analysis of the government’s economic policies in response to the crisis. To achieve this, the study analyzes data on the spread and progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in China and the data on the Chinese economy and government initiatives to stimulate economic growth. The study draws on relevant literature to contextualize the effects of past crises on the global economy. The study found that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Chinese economy, resulting in the first annual decline in growth since 1976. The government’s response to the crisis focused on job security rather than economic growth. The study also revealed that the government implemented various measures to stimulate the economy, such as tax relief, loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, and investments in infrastructure projects. The study provides insight into the effectiveness of the government’s economic policies in response to the crisis and offers important scientific findings on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on China’s economy and public health. The study highlights the challenges faced by China in responding to the crisis and provides valuable lessons for other countries. The study’s contribution lies in its thorough analysis of the Chinese case and its potential to serve as a model for other economies in the post-pandemic era.

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