Black and white
The past few years have been very instructive. So many questions enquiring into the nature of human civilization will be answered with lessons learned from the events unfolding all over the world, especially in the flashpoints of the Global South. The ongoing clash of civilisations between East and West, or better yet the West vs […]
The past few years have been very instructive. So many questions enquiring into the nature of human civilization will be answered with lessons learned from the events unfolding all over the world, especially in the flashpoints of the Global South.
The ongoing clash of civilisations between East and West, or better yet the West vs the emergent Global South, has been rendered in stark black and white where each side considers itself superior to its adversary.
The struggle between the West, primarily the U.S., Europe, and their allies and the Global South, a term broadly referring to countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East that have historically been marginalised in global power structures, is a defining feature of contemporary geopolitics.
The “Global South”, as a geopolitical and economic concept was created in recent years due to the tectonic global shifts borne from the decline of the West and rising influence of the Third World due to economic growth, demographic shifts, and geopolitical realignments. The historical context of the Third World is defined by colonialism and post-colonial struggles against the supposed “First World”, created from the rediscovery of the modern world at Greenwich by Europe.
The Global South accuses the West of maintaining an unfair global economic order through institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and WTO, which often impose austerity measures, debt traps, and trade policies favouring Western multinational corporations.
The wars in Ukraine and the simmering tension between Israel and the Iran-led Axis of Resistance is indeed the opening stage of a war that will go both hot and cold until it either snowballs into an actual global conflagration or a resolution is reached that creates a fragile balance.
Resource extraction by Western multinationals in the Global South including the Muslim world, continues, with profits flowing outward while local populations face poverty and environmental degradation. With the clarity obtained from events in the Middle East in the past two decades, this arrangement will have to be altered for peace, and hence, balance.
The West, led by the U.S., has always sought to maintain unipolar hegemony, while the Global South increasingly aligns with China, Russia, and regional powers such as the BRICS to push for a multipolar world order. With the collapse of the Western-led “rules-based order” of global politics being accelerated by current affairs, this is increasingly becoming fait accompli.
The Global South nations have, in unison, always stood against Western-led interventions whether in Iraq or Libya and double standards such as Western support for Israel vs. condemnation of Russia. A textbook black and white moment!
In Ukraine, while the West backs Kyiv, much of the Global South remains neutral or blames NATO expansion for provoking the conflict. There is simply no scenario in which one side will tolerate another side encroaching on its borders. Do unto others what you would have them do unto you– that too, is in black and white.
Because the west intends to maintain a cultural & ideological hegemony it has almost forcefully promoted liberal democracy, LGBTQ+ rights, and secularism as universal values, while many Global South nations resist this as cultural imperialism. In response, many leaders in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia frame this Western progressivism as a threat to traditional values and sovereignty. They are so upfront about protecting their freedoms and values, and if you speak against those you are an enemy that needs to be on a droning list. They seem to believe they are the only ones who feel so strongly about their values and freedoms, including the freedom to choose their own way of life. Black and white!
The BRICS+ expansion (including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt) signals a growing alternative to Western-dominated forums like the G7. This platform is currently being utilised for de-dollarization efforts with the aim of reducing dependence on the U.S-led Western financial system.
The emergence of the idea of a South-South cooperation, anchored by such initiatives as the China’s Belt and Road and India’s Africa outreach, now also offers alternatives to Western aid, though sometimes with new strings attached.
Yes, the struggle between these two worlds reflects a broader clash over power, resources, and ideology. While the West seeks to preserve its dominance, the Global South increasingly assertive in demanding fairer economic systems, respect for sovereignty, and a voice in global governance. The rise of China as a counterweight and the weaponisation of sanctions and financial systems by the West will likely intensify this confrontation in the coming decades.
During the Cold War divisions, there were technically three blocks: the NATO bloc, the Soviet bloc and the Non-Aligned Movement. But as the Soviets rapidly declined, the West was able to cozy up to the loose membership of the Non-Aligned Movement, targeting them for integration and assimilation through neoliberal globalisation and structural adjustment policies
That became the reality of the unipolar world order that emerged following the end of the Cold War. But with these dynamics constantly being challenged and even supplanted, especially through recent pushback against Western-dominated institutions like the WTO, IMF, World Bank, the canvass became blank.
The growth of major economies in China, India, Brazil, Indonesia and Nigeria will be a major game changer and will accelerate the expansion of regional trade blocs like BRICS, African Continental Free Trade Area and ASEAN alliances.
South-South cooperation will foster investment, aid, technology transfers which will create new centre of gravity that can withstand and even compete against antagonistic interests.
The age of black and white will be interesting. Maybe not good, but definitely interesting. And we’re already in the opening days of this journey. Enjoy.