ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the members and potential members of, as well as other
countries’ association with, the G7 and G8. It reviews the evolution of the club’s
composition from the initial G6 of 1975 through the years of the G7 and (from 1998)
the G8; examines the contentious issue of Russia’s membership; and outlines the
case for and against other candidates. Other aspects of the role of non-members and
potential members of the G7 and G8 are examined in Chapter 12.
