This book documents the recent ascent to economic and political power of Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICs) and provides a vision of their future prospects. At a time when the Eurozone is calling on these countries to salvage it from indebtedness and President Obama struggles to demonstrate that 'America is back', this book examines whether the facts support the widespread perception that the BRICs are turning into global economic and political powers. If they are, do the BRICs have what it takes to rule the world in the long-term? In response to this question, this book presents an alternative vision of the BRICs' future. It suggests that any threat to Western domination from BRIC ascendancy is offset by excessive inequality and insufficient innovation, which could cause them to lose their economic dynamism and precipitate BRIC decline.