How often have you heard Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi mention the Global South in his speeches? He’s brought it up at numerous international and local events. These include his talk at the US Congress, the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, and his Independence Day speech from Red Fort. He even mentioned it at a Voice of Global South summit in January 2023. What does this mean?
Does Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inclination to follow in the footsteps of Jawaharlal Nehru signify his intention to lead the Global South and carry forward the vision of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)? Is it advisable for India to actively pursue the role of leading the countries of the Global South?
Understanding The Concept Of Global South
In India, the concept of the “Global South” has gained recognition. It is believed that India has the potential to lead other countries in the Global South and the rest. But what exactly does “the rest” refer to? Essentially, it encompasses everything beyond the United States, Europe, and their allies.
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The ‘Global South’ is not entirely based on geography:
- Bringing together Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand defies the geographic definition of the Global South.
- The geographical division falls short of providing an accurate representation of the Global South.
Even economics does not Define Global South
When examining the concept of the Global South from an economic perspective, it becomes apparent that it fails to pass the test. For example, China, with its per capita income exceeding $12,000, continues to position itself as a developing nation. This contradicts the conventional economic characteristics associated with the Global South.
The Rising Influence of Prime Minister Modi
Over the last five decades, this concept has been expressed in various terms such as “Third World” and “Developing World.” In recent times, the term “Global South” has been revived and now, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is considered its most influential and potent global representative.
BRICS And SCO: Indicative Of the Emerging Power Structure
- In the current global scenario, any new multilateral organisation outside American influence is likely to be dominated by China, as evidenced by the SCO and BRICS.
- This development necessitates a reassessment of the ambitions of the Global South to lead.
- During the Cold War, despite its geographical remoteness, the Soviet Union led a distinct bloc and influenced NAM externally.
- With China at the core and centre stage of global power dynamics today, the future trajectory for the Global South presents a complex challenge.
Also Read | Main Themes Of India’s Foreign Policy
China May Use Global South As Proxy, Similar To NAM’s Role For Soviet Russia
The way the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) acted as a proxy for the South Block, the Global South might end up playing a similar role for China.
- After two World Wars, India under then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru navigated a world divided primarily between the US and the Soviet Union blocs.
- Despite Nehru’s personal Western lifestyle and social connections, he hesitated to align India with the West due to his socialist ideology.
- The prevalent perspective of that era was an East versus West divide, with the assumption that the West was exploitative and the East was noble.
- The Non-Aligned Movement, founded by Nehru, leaned anti-Western, echoing these sentiments.
- Under Indira Gandhi, any remaining neutrality of the Non-Aligned Movement dissolved, as she leaned more towards the Soviets and signed a treaty with Moscow.
- Eventually, the Non-Aligned Movement, led by countries like India and Cuba, became largely a proxy for the Soviet Bloc.
The Implications For India
The risk of the Global South evolving into a Chinese bloc in the emerging bipolar world is substantial, which underscores why India should reconsider its aspiration to lead the Global South.
- In the emerging bipolar world order, the Global South may increasingly align with China, reducing the effectiveness of multilateral organisations not influenced by the US.
- Attempting to lead the Global South under such circumstances could disadvantage India by forcing it to negotiate from a position of reduced geopolitical influence.
- During the UPA-2 era, the concept of Non-Alignment 2.0 was proposed but didn’t gain traction due to a subsequent change in power.
- With a majority, the present government under the leadership of Narendra Modi has been able to decisively move away from past ideologies, adopting a more pragmatic and transactional approach.
- Therefore, the concept of India spearheading the Global South does not align with the vision of India’s foreign policy since 2014.
Also Read | India’s Foreign Policy Post 2014
India’s Interest Lies In Global North
- Interestingly, several key allies of the so-called evil Global North lie in the south: Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, the Philippines, and why not also India? India’s political and economic ties are strongly connected to the Global North.
- The undeniable truth is that India’s allies, economic interests, diaspora, and the social, cultural, and economic ties India holds dear are all rooted in what we often dismiss with contempt as the Global North.