India’s influential role in the G20 leadership summit in New Delhi marks a significant shift in global dynamics. This event highlights India’s leading voice for developing nations and its potential impact on international economic diplomacy.
The G20’s expansion to include the African Union also strengthens the representation of emerging nations and their economic interests. These shifts suggest a lessening relevance of traditional South-South Cooperation frameworks for India. As the world just commemorated the United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation on September 12, it’s timely to reassess these systems in light of India’s global aspirations.
Key reasons why India should reconsider the South-South Cooperation framework include:
- India’s strengthened position in global forums like the G20.
- The inclusion of the African Union in the G20, creating a strong ally for India.
- The outdated nature of traditional South-South Cooperation frameworks in the current geopolitical context.
- The necessity to align international cooperation frameworks with India’s global ambitions.
Rethinking South-South Cooperation : Addressing Colonial Legacy
- ‘South’ and ‘North’ labels, commonly used in discussions on cooperation, stem from colonial worldviews. These terms orient the globe from a Western vantage point.
- Using such labels could unintentionally reinforce colonial ideas, reminding nations of their colonial past. It also focuses on geographical divisions, not on common goals, cultures, or values.
- Properly implemented, South-South cooperation could counteract colonial impacts. It could help nations regain independence, draw upon a shared past, and create their future together.
- However, the effectiveness of such cooperation hinges on the motives and methods of involved nations.
- South-South cooperation often fails to confront issues like ongoing effects of colonisation.
- Without a solid decolonial plan, cooperation efforts could spawn new colonial tendencies and fuel other kinds of oppression, particularly in less developed countries.
North’s Influence On South-South Relations: An Unresolved Issue
- South-South Cooperation was aimed at confronting the oppressive essence of North-South ties, but it hasn’t fully accomplished its purpose.
- Northern nations use South-South cooperation as a tool to manipulate numerous geopolitical matters, including developmental aid.
- An example is how the North provokes India to work with African countries using their own models and programmes, advancing their economic agenda.
- The oppressive North-South relationship is mirrored in Western media’s portrayal of South-South Cooperation, often through images of poverty and undernourishment.
- This portrayal is influenced by the North’s long-standing narrative about the impoverished Global South.
- India’s Aspirations: Beyond South-South Cooperation
- India’s development goals are largely influenced by South-South Cooperation.
- This partnership seeks to foster collaboration in crucial domains such as agricultural development, human rights, urbanisation, health, and climate change.
- In the past, India perceived South-South Cooperation as a potential alternative to the traditional North-South Cooperation.
- This shift was envisioned to help India become a key international player in aid and assistance.
- However, it’s now apparent that South-South Cooperation doesn’t fully capture India’s current ambitions.
- One of the reasons for this is that, on a global scale, South-South Cooperation is often regarded more as a symbol of solidarity among nations in the Global South rather than a feasible substitute for Overseas Development Assistance.
India’s Growing Global Influence And Multilateralism
- BRICS and G20 are growing in importance. These are groups of nations that work together on common issues.
India is actively involved in both BRICS and G20. - BRICS countries, including China and Russia, are becoming more important in world affairs. They are also providing international aid.
- India’s participation in G20 helps mobilise resources for developing nations, often referred to as the Global South.
India’s emerging global status demands a rethinking of the South-South Cooperation framework. This framework was intended to unite and advance developing nations. However, it has limitations:
- It has colonial undertones.
- It is susceptible to influence from developed nations.
- The diverse interests of the Global South nations make cohesive structure difficult.
- Given these limitations, India’s global ambitions are better served by groups like BRICS and G20, which address global challenges and economic diplomacy collectively.
(This IR note is based on the article titled “Reasons why India should reassess the South-South cooperation framework” published on ORF)