India recently conducted its second ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’ (VOGSS), reinforcing its commitment to encourage unity amongst nations and fortify its leadership in the Global South. This summit followed the first meeting, held in January 2023.
Key Highlights from Second VOGSS
The inaugural session had the theme ‘Together, for Everyone’s Growth, with Everyone’s Trust’, while the final session stressed ‘Global South: Together for One Future.’
One of the main objectives of the Summit was to share the results of the G20 summit hosted by India, maintaining momentum for successful implementation of G20 decisions, particularly those in favor of developing countries.
At the Summit, Indian PM inaugurated Global South Center of Excellence ‘DAKSHIN’, intending to promote collaboration among developing nations by serving as a knowledge hub and think tank.
Discussion topics during ministerial sessions included Sustainable Development Goals, energy transition, climate finance, digital transformation, women-led development, counter-terrorism, and global institution reforms.
India also expressed concern about the Israel-Hamas conflict and emphasized the need for all involved parties to exercise restraint and prioritize civilian safety.
Furthermore, India proposed 5 ‘Cs’ for the Global South: consultation, cooperation, communication, creativity, and capacity building.
Understanding The Global South
The Global South, often misconstrued as a strictly geographical concept, includes diverse countries reflecting geopolitical, historical, and developmental factors. It primarily represents nations facing developmental challenges.
In a historical context, former German Chancellor Willy Brandt proposed a line (Brandt Line) in the 1980s as a visual representation of the north-south divide based on per-capita GDP. The line highlights the global economic divide and includes parts of Africa, the Middle East, India, and China.
In 1964, the G-77 was established, becoming the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries at the time.
The Revival of the Global South
The Global South’s economic disparities were magnified by the Covid-19 pandemic due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure, disrupted supply chains, and heavy reliance on sectors prone to lockdowns.
There is a collective voice of the Global South gaining prominence in international forums such as G20, altering power dynamics, and encouraging more consideration of their perspectives and interests.
These nations are also more adversely affected by climate change, leading to discussions on climate adaptation, resilience-building, and equitable global climate action.
Influence of the Global South
Evidence of the escalating influence of the Global South includes the establishment of the ‘Loss and Damage Fund’ during COP27 in Egypt. The expansion of BRICS to 11 members emphasized increased engagement with the Global South.
The inclusion of the 55-nation African Union in the G20 signifies increasing recognition of African nations’ global significance.
Challenges for India as a Voice of the Global South
India faces challenges as a representative of the Global South, given the diverse political ideologies, economic structures, and geopolitical ambitions of these countries.
Balancing power dynamics within this group and ensuring equal representation can be demanding, especially because stronger countries could potentially overshadow the concerns of smaller ones.
India’s Way Forward
India must strengthen alliances within regional blocs such as SAARC, ASEAN, and BIMSTEC. Promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing among Global South nations can leverage each other’s strengths.
India should push for reforms in global governance structures like the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank. This would ensure fair representation and greater decision-making power for the Global South.
India also has the opportunity to lead by example in adopting sustainable practices, investing in renewable energy, and advocating for global efforts to fight climate change while meeting the developmental needs of Global South nations.
The article concludes by recalling previous year questions related to the topic from UPSC Civil Services Examination.
