(Opinion) Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva frequently highlights the “Global South,” aiming to lead this diverse group amid geopolitical shifts.
Critics argue the term “Global South” is too broad, covering nations with varying political, economic, and cultural backgrounds.
This includes democracies and dictatorships, such as China, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, complicating a unified identity for this coalition.
The term originated in the 1980s to describe the economic and population divide, often highlighting poorer nations in the Southern Hemisphere.
The inclusion of China also risks implying alignment in the power struggle between Beijing and Washington, especially within the BRICS group.
Globally, democracy is declining, with the democratic crisis more visible in the Global South.
Countries like Brazil and South Africa are seen as flawed democracies, while China is considered a dictatorship.
Russia’s influence in Africa, notably through the Wagner Group, has further destabilized democracies there.