The Global South is grappling with poverty, illiteracy, human rights abuses, widespread impoverishment, poor health conditions, food shortages, climate disasters, lawlessness and terrorism.
It represents an updated version of the former Third World countries or those within the Non-Aligned Movement, many of which are part of the G77 nations. Economic security and political stability are significant challenges for nearly all of these countries, whose leaders often practice autocracy, inconsistent democracy, or kingship, accompanied by ineffective policies. Political unrest exacerbates the suffering of the population, as many governments show little concern for the welfare of their citizens. The responsibility falls on the Global North to address the issues facing the Global South before it collapses entirely.
The map of the Global South is quite sporadic, with most of the Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern and African countries part of it. Policy frameworks and implementation mechanisms in these countries is quite weak. While many countries in the Global South are suffering a lot due to their own policies, some like China are an exception, as they are quite vigilant and active in their policy implementation framework. That’s why they have achieved economic progress and are poised to join the Global North.
Pakistan is one of the countries in the Global South struggling to cope with the economic, political, and social challenges posed by its difficult circumstances. The situation is particularly dire when considering the Human Development Index, especially the social indicators that measure employment generation, poverty reduction, improvements in human resources, and living standards.
The political situation is far from ideal, with opposition parties protesting against human rights abuses while exercising their right to peaceful demonstration. Economic challenges are also placing increasing pressure on the administration to implement tough measures to address the growing debt burden on the economy. Heavy taxation has further eroded the competitiveness of the export sector, as production costs have risen to a level that prevents it from competing with regional trade surpluses.
The Global South generally lags behind in science and technology, which are crucial for gaining an edge in innovation and fostering growth. As a result, countries in the Global South struggle to compete in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI), due to a lack of the necessary capital and expertise to invest in this emerging sector. In contrast, the Global North leads in most fields, with the notable exception of countries like China, which competes in microchips and semiconductor technology. However, China is not truly part of the Global South, despite being viewed as such by many countries in that region. In fact, China is well-positioned to lead the Global South, as it is involved in numerous development projects in other countries, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The Global North, led by the US, is a leader in almost every field worldwide due to a combination of factors that give it an edge over the rest of the world. They have developed the best democratic political systems with a strong rule of law in place. They have also cultivated knowledge economies, generating significant capital to invest across various sectors, from manufacturing and production to scientific innovation.
The renewable energy and battery revolutions, along with advancements in Artificial Intelligence, have further strengthened their economies, helping them overcome resource constraints and sustain growth. The Global North also boasts an impregnable defense system, enabling it to exploit the Global South for the benefit of its own nations. They have also established strategic alliances and partnerships to secure victories and maintain dominance over the Global South.
Humanity has suffered greatly at the hands of its own kind, with a complex and tumultuous history of infighting, conflict, and war. The era of chivalry and glory may seem distant, yet the two World Wars of the twentieth century serve as stark reminders of human ingenuity in destruction. Despite efforts, including the creation of the UN for the specific purpose of fostering peace, a lasting resolution has remained elusive. Now, it is time for those who truly shape the international order to reconsider their approach and unite in giving peace a chance, in order to save humanity from poverty, hunger, and starvation.
The shape of the new world order that will emerge in the near future as a result of the competition between the Global North and Global South remains to be seen. Numerous challenges are threatening global economic diplomacy, putting the world supply chain mechanism at risk. The Chinese economy has become a significant threat to the economic power of the US, particularly in the fields of technology, such as electric batteries and microchips crucial for Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications.
China now holds a near monopoly over semiconductors, which are essential for emerging technologies. Global economic diplomacy is taking new directions due to the ongoing trade war between the US and China. The US’s efforts to encircle China through various defence and economic alliances at the global level could lead to further conflict, endangering global supply chains.
Apart from these challenges, the Global North and Global South are facing another challenge – climate change, which is equally applicable to all. Climate is the focus today owing to the incremental impact of heatwaves and other environmental changes. Extreme weather trends and long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns are affecting the globe. Last year (2024) was the hottest year, signaling new catastrophic trends in the coming days and years if not properly handled by the world. Natural disasters are gripping our economic landscape despite the fact that disaster authorities are also active.
There is a strong likelihood that global temperatures will continue to rise in the coming years due to multiple factors, ranging from the carbonisation of the atmosphere and carbon emissions to the use of fossil fuels, deforestation, and the growing global population. Extreme weather conditions are becoming more prevalent, creating ripple effects that result in heat events impacting the capacity and working hours of the labor force. Heatwaves can trigger a domino effect, affecting people worldwide. The summer of 2024 was particularly challenging, especially in North and South America, where heatwaves were estimated to have an incremental effect of 1.4 C. This trend of warmer weather clearly indicates that similar patterns are likely to continue in the upcoming seasons.
It is now time to cooperate, collaborate and complement instead of competing with each other. Humanity is at a stage where technological development must be used for peace, progress and prosperity instead of danger, destruction and destitution. The Global North must focus on the common danger of climate change to save humanity from the wrath of natural disasters. In this, it needs help from the Global North.
The writer is a former additional secretary and can be reached at:
hassanbaig2009@gmail.com
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