The term “Global South” has often been tossed around in power corridors over the decades, but it’s not yet a heavyweight consortium or a prime power block. The reluctance of many African, Asian, and Latin American countries to support NATO in the Ukraine conflict has spotlighted the Global South. Encompassing around 88 percent of the world’s population, the Global South operates in the major geography of the world, gaining its clarity and cohesion as the world shifts towards a multipolar system.
Seen as the habit of the world’s “have-nots,” the block Global South is often associated with scarce resources, food insecurity, and a slew of health challenges. Despite its struggles, the Global South is proving to be a formidable player, replete with resilience and emerging influence that defy stereotypes and standards, set by the mighty nations of the West.
Writing in Chatham House, acclaimed Singapore based expert Kishore Mahbubani has drawn a compelling comparison between two distinct blocs: the Global South and the Western elite’s G7. His analysis underscores the shifting dynamics in global influence, contrasting the growing assertiveness of the Global South with the established power of the G7.
Writing in Chatham House, acclaimed Singapore based expert Kishore Mahbubani has drawn a compelling comparison between two distinct blocs: the Global South and the Western elite’s G7. His analysis underscores the shifting dynamics in global influence, contrasting the growing assertiveness of the Global South with the established power of the G7.
“In 1980, the G7 accounted for about 50 per cent of the world’s GDP in purchasing power parity terms, while the BRICS countries – excluding Russia, then part of the Soviet Union – accounted for about 11 per cent.
Today, the G7 accounts for 30 per cent of the world’s GDP, while the BRICS countries account match it at around 30 per cent. Equally importantly, the membership of BRICS is growing dramatically, while the G7’s is stagnant,” Mahbubani compares.
The Global South, often perceived through a lens of neglect, is not merely overlooked but systematically exploited by the colonial powers. This exploitation manifests in various forms—economic dependency, uneven trade practices, and political manipulation—which perpetuate a cycle of subordination and vulnerability. Far from being a passive recipient of global neglect, the Global South has historically been subject to active exploitation, with its resources, labor, and markets frequently exploited for the benefit of the wealthier nations.
Etymology and Origin of Global South
The term Global South is believed to be coined by American Polical Acvisit Carl Oglesby in his After Vietnam, What?, published in Commonweal, March 21, 1969.
The phrase “Global South” acts as a shorthand for the political and economic struggles of nations that have historically been sidelined by the wealthier or imperialist nations of the Global North. Oglesby’s term drew from an intellectual tradition that had been critiquing global power imbalances long before he christened it. This lineage includes Antonio Gramsci, who in his 1926 essay The Southern Question, argued that northern Italian capitalists had effectively colonized and exploited the southern regions of Italy, creating a form of internal dependency and inequality.
Tough Hurdles and Unity
Several Global South countries in Africa and Asia are severely affected or rather burdened by debt traps, where international loans come with high-interest rates and stringent conditions that stifle their economic development. The promise of aid and investment often comes with strings attached, designed to favor the interests of donor countries rather than addressing the developmental needs of the recipient nations. This relationship creates a dependency that hampers the ability of Global South countries to build sustainable, autonomous economies. Hence the co-operation and fraternity are essential within the Global South nations, industries and institutions.
Ascendancy of Global South
While some might think the Global South is too far to influence global trends and developments, ideas from the global south across geographies proves them wrong. For instance, China is an outlier among many leading economies and distinguishes itself further by achieving an exceptional rate of GDP growth, averaging just over 9 percent annually since 1990 and even once exceeding 14 percent, a pace significantly faster than its upper-middle-income peers and the global average. Brazil, China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Africa all these fastest growing economies are in the Global South.
Global South is a trendsetter in science, innovation and popular culture. India’s space agency, ISRO, has managed to send satellite to the moon for less than the cost of a blockbuster Hollywood movie production. During the COVID, India has been busy shipping homegrown vaccines worldwide. Reggae from Jamaica, Bollywood films from India, and Afrobeat from Nigeria have transcended borders, becoming global sensations that shape pop culture. These are creating tidal waves in the world of music and film. All these are widely celebrated and appreciated across the globe including in the West.
With the formation of the block Global South, the developing nations across continents seek to address the shared challenges – while amplifying its voice in global affairs. The primary goal of the Global South is economic transformation and societal upliftment, rather than engaging in power struggles. Leaders from the Global South are vocally pushing for a reconfiguration of the global order towards multipolarity. The Global South, once defined merely by its geographical latitude, is now making a powerful legacy and asserting a significant role in the realm of geoeconomics.