Global South Dynamics in International Relations

The concept of the Global South has evolved to encompass a heterogeneous array of states beyond simple economic indicators, reflecting shared histories of colonialism, marginalisation and post-colonial struggle. Research in international relations now emphasises the ways in which Southern states navigate global governance, challenge existing power hierarchies and articulate alternative development paradigms. This involves the formation of transnational networks, South–South cooperation mechanisms and strategic engagement in multilateral institutions. The rising economic and political weight of states such as India, Brazil and South Africa has prompted a reconfiguration of traditional North–South binaries, highlighting multipolar and polycentric trends. Contemporary studies also explore how Global South actors leverage normative discourses—ranging from sustainable development to climate justice—to reshape international agendas. Overall, Global South dynamics reveal a complex interplay of contestation, alliance-building and normative innovation that is reshaping world politics.

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Global South Dynamics in International Relations publication trend

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Technical terms

Global South: A term denoting a diverse group of countries, primarily in Latin America, Africa and Asia, which share historical experiences of colonisation, economic marginality and collective efforts to reshape global governance.

North–South divide: The conceptual distinction between wealthier industrialised states in the Global North and less developed states in the Global South, often used to analyse inequalities in power and resources.

Meta category: An overarching classificatory concept applied to a set of entities, employed analytically to capture shared yet heterogeneous characteristics across cases.

South–South cooperation: Collaborative initiatives among developing countries aimed at mutual economic, technical and political support outside traditional North–South frameworks.

References

1. Unpacking the ‘developing’ country classification: origins and hierarchies. Review of International Political Economy (2023).
2. The ‘Global South’ in the study of world politics: examining a meta category. Third World Quarterly (2021).
3. Emerging World Order? From Multipolarity to Multilateralism in the G20, the World Bank, and the IMF. Politics & Society (2011).
4. Beyond the single story: ‘Global South’ polyphonies. Third World Quarterly (2021).