From Hafed Al-Ghwell
The Global South Summit, which will convene on Aug. 17, comes at a moment in which nations historically marginalized in global governance are beginning to assert renewed demands for a reshaping of the international order.
This ambition to recalibrate the global hierarchy is deeply rooted in decades of activism aimed at disentangling themselves from Western dominance.
From the Non-Aligned Movement of the mid-20th century to the economic alliances of today, the growing drive for a redistribution of power is both a reflection of past struggles and a strategic vision for future equity.
The timing of the summit, amid growing debates about economic dependency and geopolitical realignments, is testament to the rising influence of the South on the world stage.
In recent years, the Global South has experienced average annual gross domestic product growth of 4.7 percent, far outpacing the 2.1 percent in the Global North. This reflects not only the aspirational rhetoric but tangible shifts in economic clout.
Continuing to ignore the core issues and concerns raised by these Global South countries — including inequitable trade practices, the effects of climate change, and geopolitical marginalization — risks perpetuating a fractured global order.
Acknowledging and engaging with the outcomes of this month’s summit will be crucial if the North is to foster cooperative international relations and address shared global challenges effectively. Historically, the Global North’s interest in non-Western perspectives has broadened gradually since the end of the Cold War, as developing nations have adopted varying degrees of Western political and economic frameworks.
Despite this, many in the Global South perceive the continuing dominance of Western powers and their institutions as remnants of colonial hierarchies. Countries such as India and Brazil have sought to reconfigure the global economic order to reflect a more equitable distribution of power.
The motivations for this recalibration are multifaceted: a desire for enhanced economic dividends, more fair representation in international institutions, and greater autonomy in setting regional and global agendas.
More broadly, the push by the Global South for increased influence is also rooted in collective historical experiences and geopolitical strategies. Many countries below the notional Brandt Line that separates North from South have histories marked by colonialism, resource extraction, and political subjugation.
These experiences cultivated shared grievances and a determination to address and transform perceived imbalances in the global system.
Leaders such as Narendra Modi in India and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brazil epitomize this new assertiveness.
While India held the presidency of the G20 in 2023, Modi advocated for the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the organization. Brazil holds the G20 presidency this year and Lula has used international platforms to champion a “fair and multipolar order.”
Recent multilateral initiatives, such as the G77 and the Non-Aligned Movement, demonstrate a persistent, albeit complex, effort among developing nations to negotiate as cohesive units, seeking to elevate their collective bargaining power on the world stage.
This underlying unity, despite divergent national interests, exemplifies a strategic intent to redefine the role of the Global South and its influence on global governance.
However, while there has been acknowledgment of a distinct Global South, and its collective needs have permeated Western policy discussions, developing countries remain disappointed with the persistent vestiges of the North’s dominance in global affairs.
Examples of this include tepid responses to escalations across the Middle East and the effects of the war in Ukraine on grain-importing economies, slow progress on climate financing, and resistance to reforms of major international institutions.
Some of these concerns are pushing US and European officials to make rare overtures toward countries in the Global South but tangible action is still lacking. –FP
