Reference News Network, November 24 report: On November 20, the U.S. website Foreign Policy published an article titled "It's Time to Trust the Global South" by Sophie Eisenhauer, head of research and publications at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. The full text is as follows:

With the U.S. absent from the G20 Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, one question will undoubtedly overshadow the agenda: Who will fill the many gaps left by Washington in global governance over the past period?

Europe Doubts Deepening Cooperation

A new survey commissioned by the Munich Security Conference asked people from nine G20 members (including European countries and countries in the Global South) about their views on the statement "U.S. leadership is no longer reliable." Data showed that respondents generally believed the U.S. had abandoned its global leadership role in some or all policy areas: 47% in Turkey and as high as 78% in India. Many are concerned that the disruptive impact of U.S. policies is affecting global economic stability and key issues such as conflict resolution and global climate change.

At the G20 Summit, leaders must respond to a core issue: How can multilateral cooperation successfully address global issues and maintain global public goods such as healthcare and climate stability without U.S. participation? Public opinion is divided on who will take over the U.S. role.

As the U.S. gradually withdraws, European leaders frequently emphasize their desire to "make more friends" in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. But apart from the EU Commission's new trade negotiations, Europe has taken few other specific measures. Indeed, European governments have been preoccupied with the Ukraine-Russia conflict, increasing domestic economic uncertainty, and accumulating tensions in transatlantic relations. However, there may be deeper reasons behind this hesitation in foreign engagement: Europeans are skeptical about deepening cooperation with governments in other parts of the world.

This skepticism is widespread within European societies, and our survey data confirm this. When asked to rate the contribution of countries such as Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, and Turkey in addressing global issues (on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means completely unaccountable and 10 means fully accountable), respondents in European countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and the UK gave these countries scores of 5 or lower. When asked "Who will take on more responsibility if the U.S. no longer leads in addressing global issues," Europeans also do not hold optimistic views about countries in the Global South.

Global South Leadership Is Increasing

However, these perceptions contradict the numerous leadership practices of the Global South in addressing global issues and providing global public goods, which could serve as a foundation for cooperation with Europe. If we consider not only financial contributions but also diplomatic, action-based, and knowledge-based contributions, the leadership role of the Global South is actually extensive. This leadership spans multiple policy areas, including maintaining peace and security, ensuring global economic stability, addressing climate change and global public health crises, and protecting human rights and dignity. Such leadership is not limited to powerful countries: For example, countries in the Global South are among the largest refugee-receiving countries in terms of absolute numbers or per capita; while Western countries provide funding for UN peacekeeping operations, the countries contributing the most troops are from the Global South.

Similarly, governments of countries in the Global South have successfully mediated protracted conflicts. For example, Cuba facilitated the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia in 2016; China mediated the reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023; and in 2020, the U.S. and the Taliban signed a peace agreement in Qatar.

In addressing climate change, countries in the Global South, especially Pacific island nations, have shown particularly active diplomatic and intellectual leadership, launching numerous initiatives aimed at promoting stricter climate goals. In addition, countries in the Global South have played a leading role in South-South knowledge sharing and capacity building, offering professional solutions tailored to the unique needs of developing societies, such as Cuba's local disaster risk management model.

Survey data show that European societies know little about the contributions of the Global South in these areas. Although it is not possible to directly infer national policies from public opinions, discussions at the governmental level often focus on why countries in the Global South (especially the stronger ones) do not increase their financial contributions to global public goods, and why they do not take a stance on challenges that significantly affect the West, such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Therefore, many Europeans may notice the neutral stance of the Global South countries on the Ukraine-Russia conflict, but rarely understand the roles of countries like Cuba as a peace mediator or Turkey as a major refugee host country.

This does not mean that European dissatisfaction is unfounded, but focusing too much on these specific disappointments may cause the West to overlook many opportunities for cooperation led by the Global South. To fill the growing gap in global leadership, Europe should look more comprehensively and carefully at the contributions of African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries in promoting international peace and security, economic stability, global public health, climate protection, and human rights and dignity. Understanding the achievements and ongoing work of these countries in these areas is a necessary prerequisite for future closer cooperation, establishing lasting partnerships, and achieving effective division of labor.

Countries in the Global South may have already begun to fill the void left by the U.S. European countries should pay sufficient attention to this. (Translated by Wu Mei)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7576216828448489999/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Please express your attitude by clicking on the [Up/Down] buttons below.