By: Pragathi Kowndinya, Research Analyst, GSDN

“Orientalism is a powerful ideological apparatus that operates through a network of interconnected institutions, practices and discourses, shaping not only how the Orient is represented and perceived, but also how western subjects understand themselves in relation to the other”, says the 20^th century scholar Edward Said, in his renowned work ‘Orientalism’.

A pioneer in the post-colonial studies, Edward Said exclaims how the western domination and narratives has imprinted an inferior notion about the nations of the east in the form of neo-colonialism. Similarly, the ‘dependency school of thought’, narrates how the countries on the ‘periphery’ are locked in a state of dependency, by being the mere exporters of raw materials to the ‘core’ nations who comprise the wealthy nations of the west.

The philosophy of the global south, thus, emerged as an antithesis to the post-colonial hegemonic ambitions, ascribing the structural inequality of the world to the ideological, institutional and socio-economic attributes of the post-world war era.

Global South: The origin of a geopolitical reality

Carl Oglesby, an American political activist, is said to have coined the term ‘Global South’, to denote the group of countries who were victims of political and economic domination of the global north. Today, global south includes the nations of the then third world countries such as India, China and other Asian, African and Latin American nations who were the subjects of not just western imperialism but also persistently bearing the brunt of neo-colonialism in the form of globalization, economic sanctions, climate change catastrophes etc. which are the tyrannical realities of the 21^st century. Thus, ‘Global South’ is not a geographical entity, but a geopolitical reality encompassing the nations of both the northern and southern hemisphere.

The ‘global south’ nations began to speak for themselves from the cold war days. In the era of decolonization, the newly independent nations began to vent out their developmental ambitions through new alliances and groupings against the hegemonic ambitions of the west. For example, India, Indonesia, Egypt and other newly decolonized nations championed the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), in 1950s that resonated the cause of the developing nations and reiterated their urge to take an independent position based on their respective national interest, irrespective of the cold war bipolarity.

The G-77, a coalition of developing countries, also advocated the collective socio-economic interests of the low and middle-income countries. This grouping, established at the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in 1964, seeks to ensure south-south cooperation and acts as a platform for the nations of the global south to navigate a cohorted action across the geopolitical crossroads.

Rescripting the global balance of power

Today, global south nations embark on a journey that marks a structural shift in geopolitical gravity.  In the aftermath of the cold war and the disintegration of the USSR, the world witnessed unipolarity under the hegemony of the U.S.A. for a brief duration. But, a series of events such as the rise of China as a strong economic force, the 2009 global economic crisis, consolidation of parallel geopolitical groupings such as BRICS, ASEAN etc. decoupled the unipolarity of the U.S. and paved way for the emergence of a new world order which is multipolar!

Global South is a pivotal pillar of the multipolar world and the geopolitical dynamics encircling the global south is a testimony for the mammoth importance the world is giving to these nations in the era of multipolarity!

Global South, comprising the largest economies of the world such as China, India, Japan, its total share in the world GDP is 42% and the region houses 85% of the global population. The region has the world’s most oil rich countries such as Venezuela, Saudi Arabia etc. that accounts for 20% of the world’s fossil fuel production.

The nations are also rich reservoirs of critical and strategic minerals. For example, Brazil holds US$ 21.8 trillion worth of gold, iron, oil and uranium. China has a monopoly in the supply of 78% of world’s rare earth metals such as lithium, cobalt, gallium, tungsten etc. which are of strategic importance for the manufacturing of automobiles, EVs, semiconductor chips and other state-of-the art innovations which in turn decides the frontrunner of the 4^th industrial revolution.

Further, the global south has 70% of the world’s renewable energy potential and the crucial environmental spaces such as the Amazon rainforest that acts as the lungs of the earth and ensures ecological balance, a boon against alarming climate catastrophes of the current decade. The region also encompasses key maritime trade routes such as Suez Canal, Panama Canal, Malacca Strait which is responsible for more than 20% of global transshipment. Even the oceans of the region are a vast repository of vital mineral resources. For example, Indian Ocean Region is a treasure of polymetallic nodules; South China Sea is a treasure-house of hydrocarbons, oil, natural gas etc.

The massive demography, colossal amount of resource richness and geographical position of the emerging economies, make the global south an attractive strategic destination to fulfill the hegemonic ambitions in the geopolitical spectrum. This shift in geopolitical gravity from trans-Atlantic to Indo-Pacific is making the nations of the region to be more vigilant. Thus, to encapsulate a strong counter-weight against this neo-colonial wave, the nations of the global south are seeking to champion a strategy, thus, aiming to redefine the global balance of power. 

Struggle for Supremacy

The growing urge among nations to dominate over the global south has turned the region into a contentious zone. The spiraling diplomatic conflicts, trade battles and proxy wars have led to a geopolitical gridlock among the nations. Are the self-centered ambitions of the global powers drifting the region of global south away from the path of sustainable and equitable growth once again in the post-colonial era, is a question at stake that needs to be interrogated!

The U.S.A.’s strategic interests across the global south are growing day by day. The rate at which multilateral institutions such as BRICS, ASEAN, GCC etc. are accelerating their strong voice in the global south has made the U.S. rethink its foreign policy priorities in the region. To drive its hegemonic interests, the U.S.A. has anchored numerous initiatives. From strengthening QUAD to a summit level forum with key emerging economies of the region such as Japan and India to mediating peace between Israel, UAE and Bahrain through Abraham accords, the U.S.A. ensures that it remains as a vital strategic player in the global south.

Washington even hosted the United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit in 2022. The summit echoed the agenda to strengthen ties with African partners based on the principles of mutual respect, shared interests and values. The U.S. promised to foster health and food security, address the climate crisis and vulnerable communities’ needs in the African nations.

But, Washington’s preoccupation in Europe in the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war has thwarted its attention away from the global south. Also, its unhindered support to Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas turbulence has questioned the credibility of the U.S. as a trustworthy partner in the region who can address the humanitarian and developmental concerns of the global south. These loopholes in the U.S.’s foreign policy have paved the way for the rise of China as a vital strategic stakeholder in the region.

China’s footprint as a geopolitical bulwark is steadfastly rising in the global south. With its flagship Belt and Road initiative (BRI), China’s expansionism is spearheading across Asia and Africa. From key infrastructure initiatives such as railways, ports, power projects to Chinese companies owning mineral hotspots of Africa, China has huge investments in the global south. For example, 12% of Africa’s industrial production is owned by Chinese companies.

Recently, the Chinese President also proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). This foreign policy paradigm further fuels China’s thrust to be a global hegemon. Even the nations of South Asia are riddled in the geopolitical puzzle of China. Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives are pawns in China’s ‘debt-trap diplomacy’. Huge grants that flow under the banner of developmental aids make the nations inevitably tilt towards China.

To check the incursion of China and its allies in the Indo-pacific and global south at large and also to achieve their strategic goals the American and European interests are also rising in the region. For example, the Global Gateway initiative of the European Union, aims at connecting with the developing nations in climate, energy, transport, health, education and digital domains. Thus, the global south is gearing as an engine to harbour the global power dynamics. But, to what extent these ambitious visions of the nations translate into a developmental reality and leverage the growth momentum is a serious criterion that the global south has to introspect.

India: Articulating an inclusive global south

India is an ardent advocate of the voice of the global south. It has vocalized the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the developing world since Independence.  As a founding member of the NAM, India has firmly refuted the cold war bipolarity and defended the development of the newly decolonized nations.

Even in the aftermath of 1991 economic reforms, when India was exposed to the wave of globalization and liberalization, it didn’t ally or tilt towards any particular nation. Its foreign policy perspective has steadily stood for multilateral approach that serves its national security and strategic motives.

In the current decade, India has anchored a series of initiatives to materialize south-south cooperation. The G-20 summit, 2023, hosted by India propagated the philosophy of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, emphasizing the importance of a united action for sustainable global growth. The inclusion of the African Union into the G-20 at the New Delhi Summit is a landmark step to strengthen the voice of the developing nation. Also, by shaping the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC), India aspires to establish a credible bridge between South Asia and the west, in order to realize its socio-economic goals, thereby countering the disproportionate hegemonic ambitions of its counterparts.

New Delhi also hosts ‘Global South Summit’, to envision an inclusive and united global south. In the recently hosted 3^rd Voice of the Global South Summit, with the overarching theme of ‘An empowered Global South for a sustainable future’, India conceptualized the ‘Global Development Compact’(GDI). The GDI, encompass 4 pillars, which are trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, technology sharing and project specific concessional finance and grants

India always acknowledges the spirit of inclusive and sustainable global south that ultimately leads to a secure and peaceful world. In this direction, India as a member of G-4(Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan) urges for the UNSC reforms, in such a way that it represents the current global order and geopolitical bonhomie. India, is also a key stakeholder in diverse range of multilateral platforms, from BRICS to ASEAN and from G-20 to IBSA, BIMSTEC and Colombo Security Conclave, New Delhi always seeks to furnish the principles collectivism, strategic multilateralism and a positive balance of power which ultimately unleashes a high-octane position for the developing world while scripting the new world order.

Unwinding the potential amidst spiking challenges

Currently, the world is embroiled with challenges from multiple fronts and the developing world is the major victim of it. For Example, the West Asian crisis is derailing the growth momentum of global south in terms of supply chain disruption, cross border terrorism, inflation, illegal migration, piracy threat, human trafficking etc. that is majorly impacting the labourers, marginalized communities of Asia and Africa.

Similarly, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) of the European Union that imposes a surplus tax on the carbon intensive commodities harms the export potential of the developing countries. This climate mitigation effort of the EU, poses an additional burden on those nations who are not historically responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions and climate catastrophes.

On the other hand, the inertia of the developed nations, to act rigorously in order to aid the developing countries for climate mitigation and adaptation measures is a testament for how the global south is hanging between a double-edged sword. For example, the recently concluded UNFCCC COP29 shows how realizing the vision of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR-RC) is a herculean task. The equity in climate finance, time frame and the sources of funds are still a puzzle. The U.S. $100billion annual climate finance pledged by the developed nations in 2009 is still a distant dream. The oil rich nations are resistant to compromise on their economic goals. Thus, the ambitious pledges and proposals are in no sight of translating into a reality. But the victims are the small-island nations, labour intensive nations of the global south who are most vulnerable to climate hazards.

As the Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Ngozi exclaims, “the real tragedy of our postcolonial world is not that the majority of people had no say in whether or not they wanted this new world; rather, it is that the majority have not been given the tools to negotiate this new world”. Thus, to proclaim and navigate the needs of the global south, the tools of power should lie in the hands of those respective nations. In this direction, the nations of the global south should unitedly urge for the UNSC reforms, a hallmark step in crafting an inclusive and developed global south.

Further, nations of the global south should ensure that democracy and human security thrives against military coups and proxy wars. With more than 60% of the global youth coming from the low- and middle-income countries of Africa and Asia, the nations have to nourish each other’s demographic potential with adequate aid towards education, health, skill empowerment and employment. The nations should be prudent in spending their resources. Rather than fueling towards endless wars and conflicts, resources should be channelized towards meeting the developmental goals.

This era, which operates on the realist principles, the lesson for the global south is to intensify interactions among member nations, increase trade, investment and currency exchange, diversify production and manufacturing network, indulge in global supply chain, invent and transfer critical & strategic technology, boost digital public infrastructure etc. and coherently counter the indifferent hegemonic aspirations. Implementing these lessons will make the strategic zone of the global south stable, independent and sovereign in the neo-colonial geopolitical game, thus, propelling its growth trajectory. As the current geopolitical chessboard is a positive sum game, if you war with your partners, you are under a geopolitical trap and you lose many things, instead if you revolutionize an inclusive and united action, you gain even more, that ultimately champions the global good and unleashes the potential to achieve the strategic victory of historically suffered nations and define a balanced global order. So, the decision is on the Global South, regarding which way to opt!