• Glide@lemmy.ca
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    15 days ago

    His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance

    What is meant by this? “so-called” is a qualifier we like to use to infer that something is using a name that doesn’t actually define it well. Is this not actually an “alliance,” or is this just unapologetic journalist bias trying to use negative language to speak about this group?

    Genuine question. I can’t think of a third option, but if there is one, please, chime in.

    • Parade du Grotesque@lemmy.sdf.org
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      15 days ago

      It used to be BRIC (Brazil, India, China, Russia) or BRICS (same + South Africa). In the article, it has been extended again to other nations, therefore “so-called” because its membership is not the same anymore. Also, the membership seems very informal, it’s just a bunch of countries maintaining ties and having discussions, not a real group of countries, with its own set of rules and institutions.