Global South Illustration: Xia Qing/GT
Global governance is undergoing a profound transformation. Power imbalances, the failure of multilateral institutions to adequately address 21st-century challenges, and growing discontent with the dominance of the Global North have paved the way for the emergence of new forces ready to reshape the world order – the Global South.
For decades, countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific were perceived merely as recipients of global policies and rules. Today, they are rising – with vision, capacity and legitimacy – to lead. This emergence marks a new era of global governance, one that is more inclusive, multipolar and rooted in justice.
Amid the continuously evolving global geopolitical and economic landscape, the BRICS is increasingly asserting its role as a new force driving more inclusive and equitable global governance.
A major catalyst for the rise of the Global South is the systemic failure of development models imposed by the Global North. The failure of the Global North’s development paradigm lies in its rigid application of a “one-size-fits-all” model – ignoring the unique histories, cultures and socio-economic realities of the Global South. Global North models – built on free-market capitalism, economic liberalization and procedural democracy – often fail to account for the social, historical and cultural contexts of developing nations.
Privatization of public sectors, deregulation and trade liberalization policies, promoted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank through the Washington Consensus, have undermined the productive capacities of the Global South. The Washington Consensus imposed a policy paradigm on Global South states, mandating structural adjustments that prioritized privatization, deregulation and trade liberalization as conditionalities for financial assistance. The Washington Consensus functioned as an instrument of neo-colonial control, extracting compliance from Global South economies through debt-austerity regimes.
Rather than fostering inclusive growth, these measures have exacerbated dependence on foreign investment and external debt, leaving the Global South with heightened inequality, poverty, and uncompetitive domestic industries.
In response to the shortcomings of Northern-dominated governance, the Global South is rising with new approaches that are collaborative, inclusive and grounded in solidarity. This emergence is reflected in various geopolitical and institutional trends. Countries like Brazil, India and China are now central actors in global diplomacy. Not only are they new economic powerhouses, but they also offer alternative perspectives on global issues ranging from climate crises to digital governance.
China stands as a major developing country whose development model has been inspiring many developing countries in the Global South. What sets China apart is its consistent commitment to sustainable development that places the harmony between humanity and nature at its very foundation. Rather than following the conventional growth-at-all-costs trajectory, China integrates ecological considerations with economic planning, demonstrating that development can be both ambitious and environmentally conscious.
Global South cooperation in the BRICS platform has yielded great benefits for member countries. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published its World Economic Outlook report in April, which projects that the combined GDP growth of the eleven BRICS countries would surpass the global average in 2025. BRICS has now expanded to include Indonesia, Iran, the UAE, Egypt and Ethiopia, representing 50 percent of the global population. This block serves as a pivotal force in rebalancing Western dominance in global economic governance.
Equitable economic development and poverty eradication are core ideals of the Global South. Since its early nation-building period, China has pioneered innovative approaches to economic growth. Rather than replicating Western development models, China has achieved remarkable success in eradicating poverty, advancing technological prowess and fostering widespread prosperity. China’s success serves as a profound inspiration for the Global South, demonstrating that alternative development pathways can yield transformative results.
As a new vision of global governance, Global South leadership brings a fundamentally different alternative vision of the Global North approach, true multilateralism: The global system should reflect a multipolar reality, not the dominance of a single power bloc; inclusive and sustainable development, development should focus on human well-being, social justice and ecological balance; solidarity and equal cooperation, cooperation between countries should not be subordinate but based on mutual respect; national sovereignty and collective sovereignty, the state should have control over its development agenda but also be ready to contribute to the global common interest.
Global South leadership is not simply a geopolitical shift – it is the embodiment of humanity’s collective hope for a world order that respects dignity, diversity and the planet. If given space and support, the Global South will not only be part of the future of global governance – they will lead it.
The author is director of Global Development Research Center. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn
