Words are funny things. We tend to use them without thinking about what they really mean – or if they mean anything at all. That’s especially true of expressions used in geopolitics.
So, have you wondered why the “Global South” includes so many countries and regions in the northern hemisphere? And is there a “Global North”? If there is it must include Australia and New Zealand. Right now, the phrase “Global South” is everywhere in the media – left, right and center – economically, militarily, politically, culturally. The reason is “BRICS,” another word which everyone knows but few people really understand-- but which is focused on the “Global South” .
The term Global South was first coined and introduced into the lexicon of political terms and international relations by Carl Oglesby , an American author and New Left activist, in 1969. In an article he wrote for the Catholic magazine Commonwealth at the height of the Vietnam War, Oglesby analyzed the state of the world as follows: the countries of the Global North—the Northern Hemisphere—have converged and aligned to create an intolerable social order for the Global South
This what the world looked like to Oglesby. Previously the earth was divided into the First World, Second World and Third World, a demeaning and classist division, like First-Class, Second-Class, and Third Class.
So, Oglesby just saw Rich and Poor. Rulers and Ruled
Makes sense. 1969 was Woodstock time. Things were simpler then .
Prior to Oglesby’s definition, most Western analysts divided countries into three worlds: the First being, of course, the US and its vassals: the Second, the Soviet bloc , and the Third, mostly former colonies of the First.
The US didn’t much like the term “Global South” because if it accepted it, it could no longer talk about the First World, which implicitly acknowledged America’s hegemonic position as No. 1 so it didn’t get around to using the term for half a century after Ogelesby—not until 2010— and then only grudgingly although the phrase became commonplace from 2020 on.
In any case, things have changed since 1969. The Earth looks different.
And recently the biggest thing in the News was the BRIC Summit in Delhi and Xi’s speech, “Consolidating the Foundation of BRICS Cooperation and Strengthening the Global South”, which was aimed not so much at BRICS Members but observers, and countries considering joining. Gone is “ . BRICS members all must adhere to one unifying theme—“multipolarity”.
Accordi to Xi….
To stabilize and improve the world, the BRICS countries must seize the initiative in history, unite with the vast majority of the Global South countries, play a positive, stabilizing, and benevolent role in international affairs, and enhance the common well-being of humanity.
BRICS nations should not be passive or just self-concerned as “ non-aligned” nations once were, rather they should work together, in a moral alignment of common interest. Xi emphasized that this did not mean dumping existing institutions such as the UN or the WTO, but building upon them, improving them and bringing them up to date to cope with the challenges of the times.
It must be creative.
For the BRICS to achieve significant progress and development, it must solidify the foundation of pragmatic cooperation. It should leverage its advantages of being backed by emerging markets and connecting the global South, adhere to open cooperation and mutual benefit, maintain the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, cultivate an integrated market, build innovation incubators, upgrade traditional industries, develop emerging industries, and plan for future industries.
Xi’s vision is not so different from that of Putin or Modi. but is in striking contrast with that of both political parties in the US.
Some of Xi’s starting points:
open-source and inclusive artificial intelligence with China establishing a BRICS AI open-source zone
trade and investment initiatives for open development --special economic zones among BRICS countries, with “smart” gateways for aligning policy.
a BRICS digital industry cloud platform to promote the development of the digital economy with digital skills training, technology exchange , and industry matchmaking.
a Smart Manufacturing Cooperation Initiative, building smart factories, with uniform standards
joint engineer training and mutual competency standards leveraging the BRICS Youth Science and Technology Innovation Exchange Program
Xi Jinping emphasized that this year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. The 15th Five-Year Plan is not only China’s own development blueprint but also a list of cooperation opportunities for the world. China will continue to promote high-quality development, expand high-level opening-up, implement global development initiatives, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, share opportunities and create prosperity with all countries, and jointly write a new chapter of unity and self-reliance in the Global South.
Xi was demonstrating leadership with a well-worked out pragmatic emphasis on developmental initiatives — but this BRICS summit really belonged to India.
Still, the presence of Xi announced a new stage in the relationship between India and China – and, of course, the trilateral relationship with Russia since Putin has good relations with both leaders, and Russia with both countries.
India is not discarding its relationships with the West, nor, as its long standing tradition to not sides between in Wars between West and East. But it is a rapidly growing industrial power and it understands that where it’s economic future lies.
Thailand is not a BRICS member, but a “partner country”, meaning it eventually will be. And this Summit was persuasive.
One Earth, Many Worlds.
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Julian! That BRICS map needs to be updated. Indonesia JOINED BRICS (the tenth member) on the sixth of January, 2025. It is shown as having been invited, but it is already a member. Other “yellow” countries appear to be correct.
The most important difference between the "BRICS" and the USA and the "West" is clearly evident in practice. It concerns peaceful trade, services, production, logistics, infrastructure, and banking. Real values are being created, and something is being built. The only thing coming from the "West" that drowns out everything else is: submit to our rules, and it engages in destruction. Because I live in Germany, I hear every day how evil the others are and: war, war, war. It has become dangerous to say: "We must talk with the others and jointly seek solutions." Particularly in relation to Russia, Iran, Palestine, and China.
Yesterday I wrote at "Sonar21":
"The basic idea of 'multipolarity', as it is currently being propagated, is characterized by:
Non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. (Ok, I try not to be naive in this regard.)
Independence and sovereignty. This ties in with the first point. Although there is hardly a country in our networked world that can exist completely independently of what is out there. Huge resource-rich Russia could exist autonomously. But I don't believe that anyone in Russia wishes for that.
Points 1 and 2 are non-negotiable. If these points are disregarded, that would mean the end of an alternative: 'multipolar world'. That is why the BRICS will not unite into a homogeneous block for many more years. If ever at all. NATO and the EU are not homogeneous blocks or alliances either. That is just propaganda. There is the hegemon and there is the influence of Israel with its globalist Zionist cabal. These alliances are held together by violence and rape. Europe, particularly Germany, France and Great Britain, is being deliberately and systematically economically destroyed by the hegemon. Naturally with the help of the '5th column' and mainstream media, which have been bred by the hegemon since 1945.
At their core, the BRICS may now only be the RIC. Russia, Iran and China. India and Brazil are plutocracies. Only the RIC have their oligarchs under control. That is the essential point. But when I suppress my emotions, I understand why the RIC do not confront the 'BRICS' with the choice: 'Either you are for us or against us.'
I always measure the value of a country, society, nation, government, political elites by how they deal with their own populations. And in this regard, I despise the Indian caste system, its oligarchs, politicians and 'water carriers' from the bottom of my heart. But geopolitically and strategically, India cannot be ignored even by Russia and China. So they work patiently and with long-term planning.
We should not be naive. In a world of wars and exploitation, there is no friendship between different states. There are only interests. Also in the relationship between Russia and China. And Russia and China have the most effective and most intelligent diplomacy on this planet."