Fallacy, fantasy, Global South

Source: The post is based on the article “Fallacy, fantasy, Global South” published in Business Standard on 26^th August 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Relevance: challenges with the Global South.

News: The article explains challenges with the Global South.

What does the term Global South mean?

The term “Global South” originated in 1969 in a journal during the Vietnam War. It was used to criticize the unfair global order created by the Northern hemisphere’s dominance over the Southern hemisphere.

This term evolved over time, and was also referred to as Third World and Developing World.

Does the term “Global South” accurately represent geographical and economic realities?

Geographically: The Global North-South division originated from the 1980 Brandt Report by former German Chancellor Wilhelm Brandt.

This report arbitrarily divided the world along the 30-degree north latitude line, passing through the Americas, Africa, Europe, and including China.

However, it left out Australia, New Zealand, developed countries of the Global South.

Therefore, the notion of categorizing the world into a prosperous North and an underdeveloped, struggling South does not align with geographical realities.

Economically: Around 78 nations fall under the Global South, including China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, and Bangladesh, collectively constituting a significant portion of its population.

However, economic inconsistencies emerge upon closer analysis. For instance, China, despite a per capita income exceeding $12,000, maintains its claim as a developing nation, which contradicts its categorization within the Global South.

Hence, the definition of the Global South also does not align economically.

Must Read: The Global South: origins and significance

What are the other issues with the term?

Several key allies of the “Global North” are situated in the Southern hemisphere, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, the Philippines, and even India.

Therefore, it becomes evident that a majority of India’s allies, economic interests, diaspora, and cultural connections are situated in the “Global North”, despite viewing it negatively.

How has India’s global position evolved over time?

In Nehru’s time, the division was East-West, viewing the West as exploitative and the Soviet Bloc as representing the East.

Nehru’s Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held anti-Western sentiments, later intensified by Indira Gandhi’s alignment with the Soviet Union.

However, China’s post-Cold War rise changed the global landscape, posing new challenges for India.

What are the challenges with India?

Russia’s decline and China’s challenge to American power have sparked new concepts of multilateralism and plurilateralism.

However, it is also necessary recognize that these alternative groupings could be influenced by China, as seen in BRICS and SCO.

Therefore, with China’s increasing influence, evaluating Global South’s leadership is crucial as it could also become a Chinese dominated bloc.