The Changing Global Order: Global north v/s Global south

Throughout history there had been various attempts to categorise the global order majorly on the basis of politics and economy. These include East and West divisions based on the countries benefitted from the exploits of colonialism. Developed and Developing nations on the basis of economic disparity. The First, Second, and Third World terms developed in mid-twentieth century during the Cold War to categorize nations based on their participation in the conflict. Global North and Global South terms were formed to replace the previously used notions in the late twentieth century. The term Third world became associated with poverty, instability, and negative stereotypes propagated by Western media as a result, the term "Global South" emerged as a more neutral alternative. In 1980s a German Chancellor, Willy Brandt proposed an imaginary line to divide the nations on the basis of the economic disparity which came to be known as Brandt Line. Although it is criticised as an outdated method but still relevant to study the cooperation between the developed and developing nations.

People believe that Global north and south are geographical divisions but the categorisation is based on the economy, political power, technological advancement and standard of living. Global north consists of North America, Europe, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand whereas Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and Oceania often referred to as Global South.

While globalization is an engaging process, the Global North has undeniably played a leading role in it. The economic, political, and cultural hegemony of the Global North is known to everyone, how they believe that the decisions of west are superlative and they decide the fate for everyone. But the world is in constant flux and these notions are changing with the surge of China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia.

The growing prominence of Global South:

The term ‘Global South’ has been prevalent from the 1960s, when it first originated around the cold war era but got prominent after the release of Brandt Report released in 1980. Much of the Global South coincided with the Third world countries who refused to support either USA and USSR in the cold war and formed G-77 to negotiate their priorities at the UN. Same set of countries started Non-Aligned Movement also known as NAM at the Asia-Africa Conference in 1955. India was one of the forefathers in NAM, unifying and fighting for the political and economical agendas of global south collectively. India is constantly seeking to reform the dimensions of global economy and promote an equitable multipolar system. The latest initiative of India is the Voice of Global South Summit 2023, a virtual conference participated by 125 countries. One of the important key points for initiating and hosting two Voice of the Global South summits in 2023 was the assertion that “most of the global challenges have not been created by the Global South. But they affect us more.” The International responses and the effects of climate change, covid-19, Russia-Ukraine war, energy and food security, renewable transition have exposed a division which is not happy from the present order and it is believed that this division majorly consist of Global South. India has portrayed itself as the voice of global south for calling structural reforms of the global economic order, to provide an equitable opportunity to global south as compared to global north for a development of multipolar order.

Shifting of Balance

The shifting of power can be evidenced by seeing that many countries in Asia-Africa got independence in 1950s and 1960s from the colonial empire after the World War II. But some argue that while colonialism ended a new type of imperialism started known as Neo- Imperialism, where economic and political powers are used to influence countries, unlike direct colonial rule. For example, Rwanda Asylum Plan in which the UK govt. will provide around £370m over five years to Rwanda for keeping Asylum seekers. African Union has also recognised this problem and working towards African sovereignty and also strengthening the global south. 

The rise of India, Brazil, China has not only challenged the traditional superiority of west but also contributed towards a more multipolar order. They have made a huge impact by taking their own stand on the face of issues like Russia-Ukraine war and Climate Change which portrays the share of decision making in balancing the global stage with west. Four of the 10 largest economies in 2023 are in the Global South, according to IMF data (in purchasing power parity terms): China, India, Indonesia and Brazil.

One of the most important forums, G20 (presently G21) made to discuss the global economic and financial issues includes both developed and developing economies. Last precedencies of G20 were held by Indonesia, India, Brazil and the next is South Africa for 2025 which shows the emerging dominance of global south. India in its precedency officially admitted the African Union as the 21st permanent member of the forum which shows its efforts to elevate the global south.

International institutions like UN, IMF, World Bank are mostly controlled by the Global North due to their huge funding and other countries may feel their views have not been heard fully or their interests not adequately reflected in the multilateral system. But now countries in the Global South have initiated platforms like BRICS to support a relatively a new idea of south-south framework to support each other without western intrusion. The combined GDP of the BRICS countries, especially when including new members is greater than that of the G7.

Conclusion

Global South is not a formal block but some countries from the block are taking huge interest in challenging the conventional world order and balancing the voices on the world forum. India is one of the prominent leaders connecting more than 100 countries to share their perspectives and priorities on a common platform. China is also not behind being the ‘World’s Factory’ and with the most economic might in Global South. South Africa has also sought to strengthen its voices as the guiding figure in Africa. Brazil is positioning itself as a leader of the Global South, particularly through its focus on food security. India, China, Brazil and South Africa are major contender for the role of leadership in the Global South. All these initiatives and cooperative strategies are working towards an aligned goal of making a stronger global front by cooperation and self-development. So that there must be someone to hold the reins when global north is set on loose.

Shabd Dubey