The resurgence of South–South cooperation

Abstract

This essay undertakes to depict, in broad strokes, the evolution, obstacles and main junctures in the history of South–South cooperation. It also suggests some practical and feasible ways for overcoming difficulties, ways that could infuse this aspect of international development cooperation with greater dynamism, more fully tap its inherent and growing potential for the attainment of the practical and systemic objectives that developing countries have for decades been striving for in the North–South development dialogue and negotiations, and strengthen these countries’ influence and role in world affairs and global governance.

Keywords:

• South–South cooperation
• rising powers
• United Nations
• BRICS
• global South

Notes

1. See the UNCTAD website, http://unctad.org/en/Pages/Home.aspx.

2. For an in-depth history of such efforts, see Prashad, The Darker Nations.

3. The South Commission, The Challenge to the South.

4. Gosovic, UNCTAD, Conflict and Compromise.

5. Cheru and Obi, The Rise of China and India in Africa.

6. Muhr, “Counter-hegemonic Regionalism.”

7. Schoeman, “Of BRICs and Mortar.”

8. See Boutros Ghali and Gosovic, Global Leadership.

9. Prashad, The Poorer Nations.