Global South’s New Non-Alignment in a Multipolar World

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

Support African Elements at patreon.com/africanelements and hear recent news in a single playlist. Additionally, you can gain early access to ad-free video content.

Non-Alignment: Then and Now

The idea of non-alignment is making a comeback, especially among nations in the Global South. This concept first gained traction 70 years ago at the Asia-Africa summit in Bandung, Indonesia. Back then, during the Cold War, non-alignment meant countries did not formally pick sides with either the Western or Eastern superpowers (inss.org.il).

Today, non-alignment has changed. It is about countries having their own strategic freedom. It means they can work with different global powers without being tied down by strict alliances. For example, India is a great example of this. It balances its relationships with groups like BRICS and the Quad (diplomatist.com).

Understanding the Global South

When we talk about the Global South, we are generally referring to countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These nations often share similar histories, like experiencing colonialism. They also face common challenges, such as economic development (tandfonline.com). These countries want a more fair global system. They are important because they work together to push for changes in international organizations. They also promote cooperation among themselves, which is called South-South cooperation. This group is increasingly shaping global politics and economics (tandfonline.com).

The Global South is very diverse, with different roles and changing alliances. However, they are united by a common goal: to achieve global justice and change unfair systems. They are not just criticizing the West. They are also finding ways to work with major powers while still pushing for their own interests. India, for instance, has a long history of leading this agenda, going back to anti-colonial movements. More recently, India has pushed this forward through events like the Voice of the Global South Summits and its leadership of the G20 (diplomatist.com).

What is Non-Alignment?

Non-alignment: A foreign policy approach where a state does not formally align itself with any major power bloc or alliance. Historically, it allowed nations to maintain independence during the Cold War. Today, it means strategic autonomy and the ability to cooperate with various global powers without rigid alliances.

The Rise of BRICS

BRICS is a group of major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. It started as an economic group. Its main goal is to change the current global system and fix unfair rules that go against the Global South. BRICS does not want to create a completely new world order. Instead, it wants to make the current one fairer (thediplomat.com).

BRICS works as a way for its members to cooperate on many issues. These include economic growth, financial stability, and pushing for a more equal international system. The group has expanded to include new members like the UAE, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia (inss.org.il). Many developing nations want to join BRICS because they see the world moving from a single superpower system to one with many powerful countries. Some BRICS members even try to work with both Western and Eastern powers (inss.org.il).

Multipolarity and Unipolarity Explained

To understand the current global shifts, we need to know about unipolarity and multipolarity. Unipolarity is when one major power dominates the international system. After the Cold War, the United States led a unipolar world. Multipolarity, on the other hand, is when several major powers have significant influence. This creates a more balanced distribution of power (inss.org.il).

The shift to multipolarity makes international relations more complex. Countries have to navigate changing alliances and balance their strategies. It also means that different countries need to collaborate more closely to shape global discussions. India's balanced approach, working with both BRICS and the Quad, helps it influence global talks on big issues like climate change, economic development, and regional security. This contributes to a more multipolar world (diplomatist.com).

BRICS Expansion: Original vs. New Members (October 2024)

Brazil
Russia
India
China
South Africa
UAE
Egypt
Iran
Ethiopia

Original members are in bronze, new members are in dark olive green. Source: inss.org.il

South-South Cooperation

South-South Cooperation (SSC) is all about developing countries in the Global South working together. This collaboration happens in many areas, including healthcare, education, farming, and technology. It involves sharing knowledge, technology, and resources. It also focuses on helping people develop their skills and abilities (swadeshishodh.org).

SSC is important because it helps reshape how global cooperation works. It is driven by shared interests and different ways of working together. It also makes the Global South's voice stronger when dealing with common problems like climate change and energy security. India, for example, is a leader in promoting South-South cooperation. It works to solve challenges from climate change to making sure everyone has access to digital tools (diplomatist.com).

India's Dual Role: BRICS and the Quad

India is a master at balancing its international relationships. It does this by using a diplomatic approach that allows it to stay independent while working with different global powers. India is part of BRICS, which helps it speak for emerging economies and promote South-South cooperation (diplomatist.com). At the same time, India is also part of the Quad, which is short for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue.

The Quad is an informal group that includes the United States, Japan, Australia, and India. This group focuses on working together in the Indo-Pacific region, especially on security, maritime issues, and regional stability. India's involvement in both BRICS and the Quad means it can pursue its economic goals with growing economies. It can also strengthen its security and strategic ties with developed nations. This balanced approach helps India influence global discussions on important issues like climate change, economic development, and regional security (diplomatist.com).

Reforming Global Institutions

Countries in the Global South, including India, are pushing for changes in international organizations like the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). They want these institutions to better reflect the goals and contributions of developing countries (swadeshishodh.org). The current structures are seen as unfair because they often keep old power imbalances in place. They do not fully represent the growing influence of emerging economies and the Global South in global decision-making.

One common proposal for reform is to add more developing countries as permanent members of the UNSC. India, for example, is actively seeking a permanent seat. Many countries in the Global South support India's bid. This shows how these nations are united in wanting their evolving roles in global governance to be recognized (swadeshishodh.org).

Non-Alignment in a New Era

The old idea of non-alignment from the Cold War meant not siding with either superpower. Today, with new global powers and groups like BRICS, non-alignment has changed. It now means having strategic freedom and working with many global powers, both Western and non-Western, without being tied to exclusive alliances. This allows countries to follow their own national interests. It also helps create a more balanced and fair international system. India's dual role with BRICS and the Quad is a perfect example of this new non-alignment (diplomatist.com).

Many developing nations want to join BRICS because they see the world shifting from a single dominant power to many powerful ones. They want to work with strong nations in both the West and the East. This balanced approach gives countries like India a unique chance to shape global discussions on important issues. It helps build a more open and fair system of international relations (diplomatist.com).

BRICS: Achievements and Limitations

BRICS has made efforts to challenge Western financial dominance. For example, it created the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) in 2015. These institutions were meant to compete with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (carnegieendowment.org). However, the NDB has faced challenges, such as being undercapitalized. In 2021, it only gave out a third of the funds that the World Bank provided globally (carnegieendowment.org).

Despite these limitations, BRICS is not trying to completely replace the current global order. Instead, it wants to reform it. It aims to make sure that agreed-upon rules are applied fairly to all nations (thediplomat.com). BRICS has been successful in setting agendas within forums like the G20. This allows nations from the Global South to influence global discussions. However, a limitation is that BRICS acts more as a way for cooperation rather than a group with a single, unified policy among its members (inss.org.il).

How the Global South Shapes Global Affairs

Advocating for Reforms

Pushing for changes in international institutions like the UN Security Council to better represent developing countries.

Promoting South-South Cooperation

Collaborating on knowledge, technology, and resources among developing nations.

Influencing Multipolar Dynamics

Navigating relationships with major powers to shape a more distributed global influence.

Addressing Shared Challenges

Working together on issues like climate change, energy security, and digital inclusion.

The Global South's collective actions are reshaping international relations. Source: tandfonline.com, diplomatist.com

Diversity and Unity in the Global South

The Global South and BRICS members have different political systems, economic interests, and strategic goals. This diversity naturally affects how unified they can be. While they all want a fairer global system and often push for similar reforms, their internal differences mean that BRICS works more as a way to cooperate rather than to strictly coordinate policies (tandfonline.com).

This approach allows for strategic balancing. Individual member states can pursue their own interests, even if it means working with different major global powers. The Global South is marked by its internal diversity, changing roles, and shifting alliances. However, it remains focused on broader struggles for global justice and changing unfair systems (tandfonline.com).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.