This thesis analyses whether China tries to gain more power in the IMF staying within the current international U.S.-dominated system. The analysis focuses on China's behavior in the IMF during the reform process of the last decade. The thesis examines the ways in which China can gain more power staying in the IMF. However, current power structures make it difficult to implement changes and China might therefore use political groups such as the BRICS and their New Development Bank to exert pressure. But the intention of the BRICS is not to overthrow the system but to reform it. Using official statements and speeches delivered by Chinese, U.S. or IMF staff in the IMF as well as articles published in newspapers Chinese claims and US reactions were analyzed. The results suggest that China stays within the international system and does not try to overthrow it. Nevertheless, pressure is created through the establishment of the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB). The intention of this thesis is to give a current account of Chinese behavior in the international community, supporting the understanding of underlying dynamics. Keywords IMF, China, Reforms, BRICS, New Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank, international system, challenge

BRICS is an organisation consisting of the developing countries Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Since its creation it has quickly become a great force of power on the global arena and is expected to encompass 42% of the world’s population after the upcoming membership expansion. This sparks interest in the study of the development of the organisation. Based on the research question “How can the development of BRICS be interpreted based on the theory of offensive realism?” the study explores the field of research using a qualitative case study with theory consuming design. The paper presents the result that the member states use the organisation to ensure the safety of their respective countries. This is being conducted through the increased cooperation among like-minded developing countries and through the establishment of their own institutions. These measures are implemented with the intention of balancing the west and increasing their own power.

[pt] O trabalho analisa a fragilidade dos mecanismos de accountability apresentados pelo Novo Banco de Desenvolvimento (NDB) em seu Ordenamento Socioambiental, Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), principalmente no que tange o acesso à informação e a participação da sociedade civil. Essa falta de accountability é um dos potenciais problemas advindos do modelo de sistemas nacionais avançados pelo ESF. A ausência no ESF de um mecanismo robusto que garanta a transparência e o controle socioambiental dos projetos da instituição, unido com a promoção do uso dos sistemas nacionais, pode dificultar a participação de membros da sociedade civil organizada e de comunidades potencialmente afetadas de importantes partes do processo. Após uma análise dos mecanismos de accountability no ESF do Banco Mundial, o trabalho argumenta que ocorreria um race to the bottom dos padrões de proteção socioambientais de ambos Banco Mundial e NDB, devido a uma competição no setor de financiamento para o desenvolvimento. / [en] This paper analyzes the fragility of the accountability mechanisms in the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) of the New Development Bank (NDB). Two accountability elements were highlighted: access to information and civil society participation.t is argued in the paper that one potential problem derived from the use of the country systems, supported by the ESF, is an absence of oversight. The lack of a robust accountability mechanism, which guarantees transparency and strong environmental and social protection in the NDB s projects, coupled with the use of country systems, may hamper the participation of affected peoples during the entire process. After a comparative analysis of the World Bank s ESF, it is suggested that a development financing competition of sorts might be occurring, leading towards a race to the bottom in the environmental and social protection standards in both the World Bank and the NDB.