(Editorial) As the power dynamics on the world stage continue to evolve, the focus is increasingly shifting toward the Global South.
This term refers to the emerging and developing economies that, to date, have not explicitly aligned with any major power blocs.
A case in point is the upcoming BRICS summit, bringing together the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
This summit can potentially cast light on the future trajectory of our increasingly interconnected world.
According to a high-ranking South African official, 22 nations have applied for BRICS membership, with an almost equal number expressing an interest in joining.
The roster of potential new members includes many major Global South nations, suggesting a growing collective drive for representation and change.
However, this anticipated expansion of BRICS membership should ring alarm bells in the West.
Why? Because it signals a shift in power and growing discontent with the status quo.
Our global community is already fragmented over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with clear divisions into Western, China-Russia, and neutral camps.
Yet, an Economist Intelligence Unit report suggests a worrisome geopolitical pivot.
Several Global South nations are aligning more with Russia, a move that threatens to erode our current world order even further.
The reasons behind this shift were brought to light at a recent conference in Kigali, Rwanda.
Participants highlighted three primary grievances against Western countries.
First, there’s a widespread belief that the current global system, largely led by the U.S. and Europe, fails to reflect the perspectives of the Global South sufficiently.
Second, the economic stability of these countries is under threat due to the rise in energy and food prices as a result of sanctions against Russia.
Lastly, these nations still resent past Western colonial rule, which they argue hampers their growth and development.
In response to these grievances, both Russia and China have intensified their anti-colonialism campaigns.
As easy as it might be for Western nations to dismiss these efforts as mere political maneuvering, doing so could have profound implications.
Ignoring these campaigns could fuel further discontent among the Global South nations, potentially accelerating their shift away from the West.
This is a critical wake-up call for Western nations. The world is no longer a stage where a few major powers can dictate the terms.
The Global South nations, increasingly unhappy with the Western-dominated status quo, are finding new alliances and alternative pathways.
The risk of Western isolation is real and growing. The key is engagement, not domination.
Western nations need to engage more effectively with the Global South nations, taking their grievances seriously and working together to build relationships that benefit all parties.
The alternative – maintaining the status quo and ignoring the voices of the Global South – may lead to a world order that’s increasingly unfavorable to the West.