Global South, summit of future

The summit's primary objective is to adopt a "Pact for the Future," aimed at safeguarding the future for current and future generations.

The preparation for this summit has involved extensive discussions among the 193 UN member states, co-facilitated by Germany (representing the developed countries of the North) and Namibia (representing the developed countries of the South). Germany represents the developed countries of the North, while Namibia represents the developing countries of the South.

India's stance on the summit was articulated by Indian External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar in 2023. He stressed the importance of demonstrating "genuine solidarity" and integrating the perspectives of the Global South to ensure the summit's success.

India cautioned that failing to include these essential elements might turn the summit into a "Summit of the Past," risking the UN's relevance.

Global South

The term "Global South" refers to developing countries in the UNGA, many of which were former European colonies and did not participate in negotiating the UN Charter in 1945.

Their membership began with the post-independence decolonisation process, which started with India's independence in 1947. By 1960, the Global South had become a majority in the UNGA, following the Decolonisation Resolution.

A notable achievement of this bloc was the successful adoption of amendments to the UN Charter in December 1963, which expanded the Global South's representation in key UN bodies like the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council.

Milestones

The Global South's influence has been evident through various milestones in multilateral negotiations.

The formation of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in 1961, which now includes 120 member states, and the establishment of the Group of 77 (G-77) in 1964, now representing 134 member states, are significant achievements.

Other milestones include the creation of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in 1965, the 1967 Charter of Algiers calling for a New International Economic Order, and the 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development (DRTD). 

The 1992 principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR) in international law also reflects the Global South's priorities. From 1960 to 2015, the Global South/G-77 successfully brought "development" into the core of multilateralism.

The adoption of Agenda 2030 with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015 represents a convergence of the Global North and South's interests, integrating peace, security, and development into a unified framework. 

However, the SDG Summit in 2023 highlighted that recent crises have jeopardised this vision.

Three major trends contribute to these crises. First, a resurgence of the North-South divide undermines trust in multilateral institutions.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant disparities in vaccine distribution, with the Global North stockpiling vaccines and blocking efforts to waive intellectual property rights for the Global South.

Second, there is a troubling trend towards the use of armed force rather than diplomatic means to resolve conflicts.

The UNSC's authority has been compromised by the veto power of its permanent members (P5), leading to unresolved conflicts and the erosion of UN Charter provisions, with organisations such as NATO increasingly bypassing UN mandates. 

Third, the weaponisation of economic interdependencies, established through Global South-negotiated principles, has led to the extra-territorial application of domestic laws by the Global North, impacting the Global South's sovereign participation in multilateral cooperation and escalating the socio-economic costs of implementing Agenda 2030.

These trends pose serious challenges to the Global South's goals, especially regarding the equitable application of digital technologies to accelerate Agenda 2030.

The Summit of the Future will need to address these challenges, including considering a Global Digital Compact to bridge existing digital divides.

Reflecting on the UN’s 75th anniversary in 2020, the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, emphasised the need for comprehensive reforms to address today's challenges with updated structures.

He advocated a reformed multilateralism that aligns with contemporary realities, incorporates all stakeholders, and focuses on human welfare.

PM Modi’s call underscores the importance of integrating the Global South's aspirations into the summit’s outcomes. In light of this, the Global South's focus at the Summit of the Future should be on ensuring effective multilateralism.

A potential step forward could be convening a UN General Conference in September 2025, as provided for in Article 109 of the UN Charter, to review and reform the UN Charter.

This would mark the 80th anniversary of multilateralism and could better incorporate the aspirations of the Global South into the UN's framework.