India and the Global South: Engagement, Challenges & Way Ahead

Context (IE): PM Modi visited Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, and Argentina on his way to the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Brazil, reaffirming India’s strategic focus on the Global South.

About the Global South

The Global South refers to economically developing countries mainly in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania with histories of colonial exploitation.
Common Challenges: The group faces shared vulnerabilities in climate impact, debt burden, digital divide, and access to healthcare.

Significance of the Global South

The Global South comprises over 80% of the world’s population and a rising middle class.
Geoeconomic Leverage: BRICS+ and South–South trade has amplified economic cooperation and alternative development models.
Multilateral Pressure: The Global South’s collective efforts have pushed for fairer climate finance, vaccine equity, and WTO reforms.
Strategic Autonomy: It challenges Western dominance and encourages multipolarity through forums like the G77, NAM, and IBSA.

G77 (Group of 77): A coalition of developing countries formed in 1964 to promote collective economic interests at the UN.
NAM (Non-Aligned Movement): A group of states not formally aligned with any significant power bloc, founded in 1961 during the Cold War.
IBSA: The India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum is a trilateral platform for South-South cooperation among three major democracies from Asia, South America, and Africa.

India and the Global South

India’s Leadership in Global Governance

India’s Strategic Positioning: Unlike the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM), India’s engagement is not rooted in anti-Western sentiments but in creating an alternative developmental paradigm.
Inclusive Global Governance: India has successfully advocated for the African Union’s inclusion in the G-20 during its presidency in 2023.
Development Paradigm Shift: Advocates for a cooperative, equality-based approach, contrasting with top-down models of the Global North.
Human-Centric Development: Focuses on initiatives like Mission LiFE to promote sustainable lifestyles and expand human capital and institutional capacity.
Global Partnerships: India positions itself as a representative of the Global South while balancing and deepening ties with traditional powers like the United States and Europe.
Institutional Reform Push: India renewed calls for UNSC restructuring and advocated Global South inclusion in global finance.
The China Factor: India’s global rise is seen in part as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence, especially in Africa, but India’s goal is to establish its unique identity, rather than replicate China’s model.

India’s Attempt to Reconcile the Global South

Developmental assistance through programs like the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Economic engagement through bilateral and regional trade agreements like the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement, etc., offering Lines of Credit to Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, etc.
Infrastructure development initiatives like the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief: For, e.g., Operation Raahat (2015) in Yemen, Maitri (2015) in Nepal, Sankat Mochan (2016), etc.
Cultural Diplomacy: PM’s diaspora outreach in Argentina and Caribbean states boosted people-to-people linkages.
Balanced Diplomacy: India reiterated support for a two-state solution in Palestine while maintaining strategic neutrality. PM Modi’s speeches in the G7 and G20 outreach platforms reaffirmed India’s Global South commitment.
BRICS Advocacy: India pushed for an equitable development focus within BRICS and highlighted the AU’s G20 inclusion.
Institutional Reform Push: India renewed calls for UNSC restructuring and advocated Global South inclusion in global finance.

ITEC Scheme: India’s flagship foreign aid program offering training, technical assistance, and capacity building to partner developing countries.

Challenges to India’s Role in the Global South

Humanitarian Gaps: India’s limited aid to Gaza and Sudan sparked criticism from Africa and West Asia.
UNESCO Defeat: India lost the UNESCO Vice-Chair vote in 2023, reflecting discontent over India’s muted stance on Gaza.
Perception Shift: Growing alignment with Western powers has weakened India’s image as an independent leader in the Global South.
BRICS Discord: The BRICS expansion has created divisions, with no consensus on UNSC reform, thereby weakening India’s reform agenda.
Manufacturing Doubts: The non-renewal of India’s ₹1.9 lakh crore PLI scheme raised concerns about its industrial reliability.

Way Forward for India’s Success in Global Development

Creating Domestic Capacity: While pushing for reforms in international institutions, India must also build its own capacity for global development cooperation.
Leveraging Trilateral Partnerships: India should use existing channels like the UN or partnerships with experienced countries such as Germany and France to improve its systems for international cooperation.
Learning to Scale Up: India’s global development initiatives should be built on a learning process, where it adapts & scales up its experiences through trilateral engagements and collaborative partnerships.

As India rises as a leading power, it can apply the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam philosophy to unite the Global South. Through strategic outreach, digital cooperation, and multilateral advocacy, India can pave the way for an inclusive, stable, and equitable global order led by the Global South.

Reference: Indian Express | PMFIAS: Voice of the Global South Summit

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 252

Q. Discuss the significance of India’s ‘Voice of Global South Summit’ in shaping a more equitable global order. What are the structural and geopolitical challenges India faces in institutionalising this leadership role? (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

Introduction: Write briefly about the Voice of Global South Summit (VOGSS) and aim.
Body: Write significance of VOGSS in shaping a fairer global order, structural and geopolitical challenges and way forward.
Conclusion: Emphasis on sustained commitment, inclusive diplomacy, and strategic balancing to establish a stable and inclusive global order.