The United Nations marked another year of South-South Cooperation Day in September even as the developing world reels under recurrent crises — from the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine to the crisis in Bangladesh along with disaster, displacement and extreme weather events the world over. Is there then any need for a South-South Cooperation?
The rise of the Global South has gained traction recently. Countries like India, China, Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa have been building a definitive Southern narrative by sharing their best practices and technical knowledge with fellow developing partners. However, SSC as an institution appears to have lost steam in the current geopolitical matrix. China holds a special position in the international development landscape from the Southern bloc. But the rapid expansion of its Belt and Road Initiative has not only put developed countries on the back foot but also created debt traps for developing nations. China’s geopolitical arm-twisting has unnerved other Southern countries, particularly India.
The essence of SSC is pivotal and sincere. But it is not devoid of criticism. The use
of the word, ‘South’, itself reflects the colonial hangover that developing countries are trying to shed. The geographical and economic binaries between the North and the South stall the process of building a larger cooperative framework for the benefit of Southern countries. What is of perhaps greater concern is the view among scholars that SSC serves as a common ground for advanced nations to leverage their influence, gain legitimacy, and secure a foothold in the narrative of development cooperation for Southern countries.
Then again, despite sharing similar concerns and challenges, prominent developing countries like India and China have varied geopolitical and developmental priorities. Their respective political leanings, in light of the great power competition, also create hurdles in establishing SSC as a robust platform. Moreover, the race for critical minerals and other resources between the North and the South is resulting in the formation of diverse strategic partnerships, such as the EU-India Trade and Technology Council, Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, I2U2 comprising India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America, India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, among others, that may push SSC to the background.
The SSC’s relevance is heightened at a time when the world is struggling to meet its sustainability targets. India’s capacity of and interest in bringing together about 125 countries from the developing bloc under the Voice of Global South Summit is noteworthy in this respect. This reflects New Delhi’s pivotal position in the global development architecture. Apart from bolstering its own development trajectory, New Delhi has an additional responsibility to shoulder in steering the challenges of the Southern countries.
India is one of the sought-after partners and considered as a like-minded ally by both the North and the South. This offers New Delhi a key opportunity to reinvigorate SSC and, possibly, bridge the gap between the two geographic binaries. With sustainability dominating India’s strategic outlook, SSC can be turned into a viable modality by New Delhi by encouraging fellow developing countries to participate in and sustain the movement in the post-2030 world.
