By Ammaar Muhammad Saleem
Abstract
This paper portrays how India has emerged as the voice of the global south. It is a comprehensive analysis of India’s journey to becoming the voice of the unheard, how India is a friend in times of need, and how it puts concerns of the ignored nations on the international table of the so-called elite economies. It also discusses the disruptive changes in the power dynamics of the Geopolitical realm and how India, through its shrewd diplomacy emerged as a competitor of the global powers.
Introduction
India – that is Bharat is the world’s largest democracy which is now seen as the Voice of the Global South by many nations of the third world. When India assumed its G20 presidency in 2023, it showed the world a vision of uniting people through a common purpose. India advocated for concerns of the unheard developing nations at various international economic forums. The country has shown in recent years that it is an emerging major economy and a global powerhouse of massive potential. India has also been great at partnerships and cooperation striving towards development. India has always supported the developing nations in need through its inclusive approach.
While supporting the nations of the Global South, India has emerged as their leader in the economic forum. Furthermore, India faces the challenges of entering the competition of superpowers. The ever-changing geopolitical world is now a multipolar world and nations have to dread carefully in this dynamic power-shifting field. India has adopted the policy of inclusiveness and holistic foreign affairs to tackle the current geopolitical challenges.
The Group of 20 (G20)
The Group of 20 (G20) is an international forum of economic cooperation focusing on all major international economic issues. The G20 Summit is held every year, under the leadership of a circulating Presidency. The G20 initially focused largely on broad macroeconomic issues, but it has since expanded its agenda to trade, sustainable development, health, agriculture, energy, environment, climate change, and anti-corruption. The group comprises 19 countries and 2 regional bodies i.e., the European Union (EU) and African Union (AU) (as of 2023) representing over 85% of global GDP. These countries meet annually to discuss the G20 agenda which briefs on strengthening global architecture and international economic cooperation.
India assumed the G20 Presidency on 01 December 2022 with the motto ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth One Family One Future’ conveying an attempt for just and equitable growth for all in the world, during turbulent times, in a sustainable, holistic, responsible, and inclusive manner.
But the question of the hour is How the G20 presidency paved the way for India to become the ‘Voice of Global South’ and the answer to that lies in the agenda put forward by India at the Summit. Contrary to other nations who previously held the G20 Presidency, India adopted the way of inclusivity by nominating the African Union to the membership of G20. It added the concerns of other nations who are not a part of the Group of 20 to its agenda priorities, the concerns that affect the global economy. The idea of development through cooperation by uniting the economies through a common goal has been India’s motto. And to address the issues of these unheard nations India hosted the ‘VOICE OF GLOBAL SOUTH SUMMIT.’
Voice of Global South Summit
Voice of Global South Summit was launched by India at the G20 meeting to give a platform to hear the economic issues of the Global South countries. Around 125 countries participated in this event headed by India and thanked India for bringing their issues to the global agenda. Now what does Global South mean? Is it simply the countries geographically residing in the Southern Hemisphere of the Globe? The answer is simply ‘no’.
What is Global South
Global South refers to the countries of the Third World, the developing nations of Asia, Africa and Latin America whose economies are still in need of progression. Earlier these countries were called Third World countries. The term ‘third world’ is often associated with poverty and negative stereotypes hence they were named as the ‘Global South’. The economically developed nations of the United States, Russia, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are considered the Global North.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global South Centre of Excellence to address the concerns of the Global South nations. At the launch of the Voice of Global South Summit, PM Modi said ‘The World is in a state of crisis ’, and we need to tackle this with cooperation. He addressed the Global South nations saying ‘Your voice is India’s voice’. The two-day virtual summit ended with the note, ‘Unity of voice, Unity of Purpose.’
Humans need evidence to trust something and just like that the people and leaders of Global South needed proof to trust India to bring their voice to the international table. India through its growth in economy, trade, its inclusive and holistic foreign policy, and its advancements in science and technology has shown the best efforts to gain their trust.
Why India is being at the Forefront of Global South
A. Rapid Economic Growth
India has emerged as the fastest-growing major economy in the world and is expected to be one of the top three economic powers in the next decade. As a result of the current stretch of global unpredictability and volatility, India has become a stronger, more sustainable, and more appealing destination for investments evident through its ‘Invest in India’ campaign. According to the latest reports, India has seen an estimated growth of 7.3 percent in 2023 despite the world recession hit post-COVID. When looked at from a global perspective, India’s economic growth in 2023 appears even better contrary to other major economies like the US, UK, and Japan which witnessed either deceleration or very nominal increase. As per the latest IMF reports, India is the fifth largest economy with over $3.7 trillion in GDP overtaking Great Britain.
B. India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)
To enhance economic growth through improved connectivity and economic integration among Asia, Arabian Gulf, and Europe and as a countermeasure to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the IMEC project was signed at the G20 summit in New Delhi marking a pivotal moment with wider geopolitical and economic consequences for India. The project is expected to ease the access of South Asia to Europe through the Middle Eastern corridor and also focus on manufacturing, food security, transportation of energy resources, and supply chains.
C. Cutting-Edge Technology
India is in a bright spot to harness the power of technology and become the ‘Tech Garage of the World’. Its advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G, Machine learning, Blockchain technology, augmented reality, and virtual reality show an onward graph to an innovative future. India’s successful mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan 3 to conduct in-situ scientific experiments on the unexplored parts of the moon, its state-of-the-art technology in the Defence sector equipped with AI, Quantum computing and Cybersecurity shows growing superiority in the Science and Technology sector. India is ready to share its technological capabilities and knowledge resources empowering the Global South nations.
D. Pharmacy of the World
India has lived up to its title of ‘Pharmacy of the world’ by producing various vaccines, and low-cost generic and affordable medicines. During the devastating times of COVID, India exported over 300 million doses providing vaccines to more than 100 countries. India’s vaccine diplomacy through the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ mission and its politics of compassion have earned it international goodwill.
Voicing a Conductive Environment for Development
India is one of the fastest-growing large markets and when it comes to real growth among its peers; it has been the top performer in recent times. India has been growing at a very robust rate contributing more than 16 percent of the global growth. India through its reforms and abundant labor resources has the most sustainable conditions for growing demographics. For collective growth and to tackle and support the development of global south countries, India announced the following initiatives voicing towards a conducive environment for development;
Global South Centre of Excellence: to research development solutions and best practices to be implemented.
Aarogya Maitri: to provide necessary medical aid to any developing country in need.
Global South Science and Technology Initiative: to offer Indian expertise in areas such as space technology and nuclear energy.
Global South Scholarships: offering higher education opportunities to students of Global South nations in India.
Global South Young Diplomats Program: connecting young officers of foreign embassies.
Two Pillar for International Taxation
At the G20 summit, India launched an initiative on International Taxation titled ‘Two Pillar Solution-Understanding the implications for the Global South’ to boost capacity building for Indian Tax officials with a Global South perspective. This event consisted of two panel discussions on the Two Pillar Solution and its alternatives to address challenges faced with Global tax revenues.
India’s Proposal for Permanent Membership of African Union
India and the African Countries have had close relationships even before the Global South strategy was envisioned. India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), a summit-level meeting has been held regularly since 2008 emphasising intangible support by providing agricultural support, human resource development support through opening the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Tanzania, establishing SMEs, financing, and many other cooperation dialogues.
India proposed that the African Union become a permanent member of the G20 and under its presidency, the AU ascended to the G20 membership at the summit held in New Delhi in September 2023. This is a formal expression of India’s Global South strategy, which calls to amend the situation in Africa, a population of 1.4 billion whose views are not sufficiently reflected in international cooperation.
Why Should India Aid the Global South?
India has a shared history of colonisation with most of the Global South nations and the region has been belittled in the international forums evident in their exclusion from UNSC permanent membership. India is obliged to aid the Global South also because it is in a position to do so. Not all the countries were able to recover from the colonial plunder; India envisions helping these nations to stand up on their feet moving towards global economic development.
The country is today a fast-growing economy that wants globalisation that brings prosperity. It believes in human-centric development and this is not an empty rhetoric. India has always made a common cause with the Global South. The world wants a power like India, it has stood firm against everything. There isn’t an issue where India isn’t vying into and putting out its idea. Insecurities created by globalisation in the West may depict that India acts in its interests, but the truth is, unlike the global superpowers, India doesn’t use other nations as a remedy to its problems, it helps others while looking out for itself, it believes in development through cooperation. India’s self-interest keeps it on par with the superpowers, while its self-interest has its extent.
Dynamic Power Shifts in the Geopolitical Realm and India’s Twilight World
A. A world of Multipolarity and Multilateralism
The world is witnessing a major shift in power dynamics, from geopolitical polarity to all kinds of advancements resulting in an individualistic world that portrays that the intrinsic order is now more open to newer contenders. There is no more bipolarity, it is impossible to return to a bipolar world. A multipolar polar world has emerged which has opened grounds for anyone with intellectual and technological advancements of all sorts. A multipolar world driven by the balance of power is not without its risks. Achieving an all-inclusive symmetry will depend on how one fares with the individual ones.
To keep the dynamic world order in line with peace and stability through sustainable means, the role of global non-state actors plays a crucial role, that is when the prospective for change that multilateralism holds is to be thoroughly understood and implied. In a world of egocentric interests, nations will do what is to be done with even less deception. One has to prepare for assertions of persuasion that will manoeuvre power differentials, economic advantages, and disruption from power. One must brace itself with what is expected to come and the best response is a logic that is understandable to the other party in a neutral nature.
B. India’s Twilight World
A twilight world, where changes in geopolitical order are determined by advancements in technology. The one with higher leaps in technology has to keep up with the rapidly growing developments in the world; it is vital to make collaborations varying on the region or issue. The influence of global supply chains and developments in all sorts of technologies had honed trade frictions even before the COVID crisis. The make or break of this competition is undermined by the fact that it is about disruption itself and the consequences determine the future direction of the world order.
India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar says, “The twilight world is one full of partial agreement and limited agenda. Its ambiguous nature requires flexible arrangements that are customised to the challenge”. India’s rise mounts a heap of questions of all sorts like whether it will be an Eastern power or a Western power, whether it will pursue a globalist approach or a nationalist approach. The answers lie in India’s history and traditions. Until now, a Western standard has regulated global norms. India will reflect on its cultural heritage to show its personality and set its own narrative. A multicultural world is an element of a multipolar world. India, with its long history of diversity and coexistence, defies the preconception that pluralism is entirely a Western characteristic.
Conclusion
India’s presidency of the G20 Summit 2023 has paved its way to being the ‘Voice of Global South’, the voice of the unheard. India is advocating the issues of the Global South Nations in the UN and many other various international summits. India has partnered with many developing nations through various initiatives like Global South Centre for Excellence, Aarogya Maitri, and Global South Scholarships to support them on the path of development. Erstwhile tackling all the odds, India is in line to be the next global superpower and its competitors are still maintaining neutrality with a close eye. In times of crisis, India has always proved to make the wise choice; it puts out its own narrative and does not let the West influence its decisions. The major shifts in power dynamics of the Geopolitical realm have made the world multipolar which is no longer dominated by a single power, the US hegemony is likely to end shortly as new players are more likely to head towards the tools of disruption.
If the preachers of multilateralism do not keep up the peace and stability in the world order, this competition may lead to endangering repercussions. The recent Ukraine-Russia conflict and the Palestine-Israel conflict are evidence enough to understand the abuse of power caused by a lack of understanding and cooperation. While others do their best to show their true colors, India is very cleverly running its diplomatic game through coalitions of convenience with multiple parties. India’s nationalism is willing to do more with the world than antithetic globalisation. The world wants a power like India, one which can make sure nobody dominates anybody and which can also lend a hand to the ones in need.
Additional Information
Publisher’s Note: Phadke Journal of Strategic Studies (PJSS) remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. All the views and opinions expressed are those of the author. Image Credit – Mint.
About the Author
Ammaar Muhammad Saleem holds a Bachelors degree in Political Science, History & Geography from Osmania University. He is a research consultant at The Viyug.
Competing Interests
The author declares no competing interests.
Rights and Permissions
Open Access: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). You are free to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform and build upon the material) under the following terms;
1) Attribution: You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
2) NonCommercial: You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
3) ShareAlike: If you remix, transform or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
To view a copy of this license, click here. The images or third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons License, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material.
You must be logged in to post a comment.