Nowadays the concept of Global South is prevailing in political literature throughout the world. In this light, it is necessary to elaborate this concept from the western, eastern, and Iranian points of view for further consideration in its Grand strategy.
The western approach is often misleadingly used as shorthand for a global majority. Geographically, the term refers to the 32 countries below the equator (in the southern hemisphere), in contrast to the 54 countries that lie entirely north of it. But, India and China are in the northern hemisphere. It is a political slogan than an accurate description of the world. Among emerging market countries like India, China, Brazil, and a few others, just Brazil, South Africa and Argentina are located in the Southern Hemisphere. The term’s main value is diplomatic. China likes to describe itself as a developing country that plays an important leadership role within the Global South. Vladimir Putin, seized on the grouping as a potential diplomatic platform to counter American global influence. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in 2023 implicitly referring to the Global South and China as a leader, although; uttered that the US is not seeking to decouple from China, but rather to de-risk, then US and like-minded partners are bringing forward a value proposition, particularly to the countries of the Global South to embody U.S. leadership.
The US approach is global leadership, neither North nor South. This approach is concerned with evolving new world order, rise of China and relative decline of US. In this regard, the key component of the US leadership is partners, i.e., the weak point of the US economy will be covered by the strong point of partners.
In Eastern Approach, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in 2024 called for joint efforts to inject stronger impetus into the common development, solidarity and cooperation of the Global South, with a shared future for mankind…strengthening South-South cooperation, promoting North-South cooperation, and furthering human progress. China reject attempts to divide the world by forming camps or blocs, and steering the future of global governance with fairness and justice. In this light, China and Russia should unite and grow the Global South. They should firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and promote a multipolar world and economic globalization with true multilateralism. From this point of view, the Global South is no longer the "silent majority."
It should be mentioned that China is going to pursue "global benevolent leadership." China's grand strategy "Belt & Road" was launched in 2013 with the aim of removing the obstacles made by Americans (through Pivot to Asia in 2011); and continuation of China's economic growth and development and national security. The Chinese method is based on the model of "major country relations", win-win cooperation and neither conflict nor hegemony with the US.
India, by gathering Leaders from the Global South countries at the second virtual ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’ in 2023, looks for Indian leadership in decision making on global issues, shaping global agenda, promoting effective integration of the global south countries into global value chains in a manner that renders them resilient, reliability as well as development. It should be mentioned that India as a partner in the grand strategy of the US is interested in leading Global South countries and curbing the influence of China. India has traditionally and historically pursued a combination of power, restraint policies, and Strategic Autonomy to avoid the temptation to be too close to any of the major powers.
In Indonesian Approach, on the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Asian-African Conference in 2015, they outlined that the Cold War is over, the East-West conflict has passed into history, and globalization has erased the sharp contours of the North-South divide. The center of global economic activity is passing to Asia. In this regard, an important purpose is to get countries taking more seriously the divisions that globalization is creating in the global South. The success stories of China, India or Indonesia are real. Asia and Africa would give them an opportunity to begin a conversation on sharing their experience of encountering the global movement of capital, investment, goods and ideas. Asians and Africans should engage in a conversation to protect their interests from being overshadowed by great-power rivalry. It should be mentioned that Indonesia through its free and active foreign policy, which means strategic autonomy, navigate among powers to fulfill its national interest, then leading the global south countries which is very important.
In Iranian Approach, its foreign policy founded on the principles of "dignity, wisdom, and prudence", will pursue an opportunity-driven policy by creating balance in relations with all countries, consistent with its national interests, economic development, and requirements of regional and global peace and security. In this light, Iran prioritizes strengthening relations with its neighbors for a "strong region" rather than pursuing hegemony and dominance over others. China and Russia have consistently stood by Iran during challenging times. Iran remains committed to expanding and enhancing its cooperation with emerging international players in the Global South, especially with African nations and with Latin America. Iran looks forward to engage in constructive dialogue with European countries to set relations on the right path, based on principles of mutual respect and equal footing. The United States also needs to recognize the reality and understand, once and for all, that Iran does not—and will not—respond to pressure.
In sum, Early definitions of the Third World emphasized on its exclusion from the east–west conflict of the Cold War as well as the ex-colonial status. Efforts to mobilize the Third World as an autonomous political entity were undertaken. The 1955 Bandung Conference was an early meeting of Third World states, following this, the first Non-Aligned Summit was organized in 1961, followed by the establishment of the Group of 77 (G77) in 1964. With these developments, sp,e scholars preferred using the Global South over its predecessors, such as "developing countries" and "Third World".
Global south gradually was echoed by developed, developing, emerging, major and middle powers in different regions. From the global south perspective, revaluing and learning Asia, not Eurocentrism, as method is concerned. New strategic environment in 50's and 60's or post-colonialism created a new milieu for making different organization; and now in 21st century, we witness a new strategic environment that Asia is awakening and a Globalism vs. Globalization trend is uprising for multilateralism.
It is predicted that by 2030, 80% of the world's middle-class population will be living in developing countries. By 2030 it is projected that three of the four largest economies will be from the Global South – with the order being China, India, the US and Indonesia. Already the GDP in terms of purchasing power of the Global South-dominated BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – surpasses that of the Global North’s G7 club. This economic shift has gone hand in hand with enhanced political visibility. Countries in the Global South are increasingly asserting themselves on the global scene – be it China’s brokering of Iran and Saudi Arabia’s rapprochement or Brazil’s attempt to push a peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. This shift in economic and political power has led experts in geopolitics like Kishore Mahbubani to write about the coming of an “Asian Century.” Others, talking about a “Post-Western world.”
In this light, Iran as a middle power in the West Asian region should follow its national and transnational goals based on the new strategic environment. Tehran need to create a balance at the regional level and among different regions, which somehow evokes a dynamic and active non-aligned policy; i.e. both cooperative and competitive.
Mohammad Kh.Azad, senior expert at the Institute for Political and International Studies
(The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the IPIS)