Content :

1. The Gaza war and the Global South’s ‘interventions’
2. Building blocks

The Gaza war and the Global South’s ‘interventions’

Context: The killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar by Israeli forces on October 16, 2024, marked a significant moment in Israel’s military objectives, but the future political landscape in Gaza and Lebanon remains uncertain with rising civilian casualties.

Relevance: GS 2 (International Relations)

Practice question: Discuss the role of the global South amid geopolitical conflicts with special reference to the Gaza crisis of 2024 Highlight the challenges faced by India and China in shaping the unified response. (250 words)

Fragmented Global South: The Global South’s response to the Gaza conflict has been fragmented, reflecting differing national interests. South Africa took a legal approach, referring Israel to the ICJ, while India and China have diverged in their strategies.

China’s Approach:

• Focused on aligning with the Arab world and Palestinian sovereignty through a decolonisation lens.

• Invited 14 Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to Beijing in 2024 to discuss unity.

• Avoided condemning Hamas by name to maintain a mediator role in West Asia.

• Relations with Israel weakened as China prioritised Arab-Iranian alliances.

India’s Position:

• Balances support for a two-state solution with counterterrorism efforts aligned with Israel.

• Has strong counterterrorism partnerships with Israel due to shared experiences with terrorism (e.g., 1999 India’s plane IC814 hijacking and releasing of  Jaish-e-Muhammad’s Masood Azhar parallel to Israel’s 2011 release of Sinwar).

• Continues to support Palestinian statehood, maintaining diplomatic balance despite perceptions of pro-Israel leanings.

BRICS and Divergence:

• China and India’s divergent approaches reflect broader issues in the Global South’s coherence.

• China pushes for influence through BRICS and has supported its expansion, including potential Palestinian membership, but India’s interest in BRICS remains more cautious.

Erosion of U.S. Influence:

• The diminishing role of U.S.-led Pax Americana is evident as the U.S. struggles with domestic constraints and lacks effective mediation in Gaza.

• Global South alternatives remain distant realities, unable to project political or military power in West Asia.

Global South’s Limitations:

• Despite the aspirations of the Global South, its inability to unify and project meaningful influence in international conflicts is clear.

• Mediation in West Asia requires power and leverage that no Global South country possesses individually or collectively.

Conclusion:

The Gaza war reveals both the limitations of U.S. influence and the fragmented nature of the Global South, which is unable to act as a unified force. Individual national interests, especially those of China and India, take precedence, preventing cohesive interventions.

Building Blocks

Context: The 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan was the largest international summit held in Russia since the Ukraine war began in 2022. Russia used the summit to illustrate that it is not diplomatically isolated, despite Western sanctions and pressure.

Relevance: Internation Relations

Practice question: Discuss the outcomes of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, highlighting its significance for global governance. How does the expansion of BRICS reflect the changing dynamics of the Global South?” (250 words)

Participation and Outreach:

• Leaders from 9 BRICS nations and partners, including Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, and around 30 Global South leaders, attended.

• This wide participation signalled that many non-Western countries do not endorse the isolation of Russia, reflecting the evolving global order.

Economic Cooperation and Alternatives:

• The Kazan Declaration pushed for alternatives to Western-dominated global systems, highlighting:

• Interbank Cooperation Mechanism: Aimed at reducing reliance on Western financial systems.

• Cross-border Payment Systems: An alternative to the U.S.-dominated SWIFT system.

• BRICS Grain Exchange: For food security.

• BRICS New Development Bank (NDB): Expansion to counterbalance existing financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.

• These initiatives suggest BRICS’ intent to create self-reliant systems.

BRICS Expansion:

• New members included Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

• Strategic Importance: Countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran bring energy influence, while Egypt and Ethiopia strengthen BRICS’ presence in Africa.

• The expansion underscores the bloc’s effort to challenge Western-centric global governance, signalling the rise of the Global South.

India’s Position:

• Prime Minister Modi balanced India’s role, emphasising BRICS’ inclusivity, stating it is not a divisive organisation.

• India’s alignment with both BRICS and U.S.-led frameworks (Quad, Indo-Pacific Economic Framework) highlights its diplomatic balancing act.

• Key Stances:

• Advocacy for dialogue and diplomacy over conflict.

• Support for the Palestine issue reflects India’s nuanced foreign policy.

Geopolitical Implications:

• Challenge to Western Dominance: The summit reaffirmed BRICS’ intent to reform global governance and challenge Western-led structures.

• Bilateral Diplomacy Platform: The BRICS platform facilitated meetings like the one between India and China, addressing bilateral issues such as the LAC standoff.

Limitations of BRICS:

• Internal political differences (e.g., India-China tensions) may limit cohesion.

• Despite its economic growth, BRICS lacks the military and economic power to fully replace Western-led institutions.

Conclusion :

BRICS’ success will depend on managing internal contradictions and presenting a united front. The expansion may lead to greater friction with the West, particularly regarding sanctions and global governance reforms.

BRICS overview :

• BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.
  • Represents 41% of the world’s population, 24% global GDP, and 16% of world trade.

Formation & Evolution:

• 2001: Coined by economist Jim O’Neill as BRIC.
  • 2006: Formalized; 2010: South Africa joined, forming BRICS.

Objectives:

• Peace & Security: Promote a multipolar world.
  • Development & Cooperation: Sustainable growth, trade, investment.
  • Global Governance Reform: Seek UN, IMF, World Bank reforms.
  • Security Cooperation: Combat terrorism.
  • Cultural Exchange: Science, tech, education.

Key Institutions:

• New Development Bank (NDB): Infrastructure financing.
  • Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA): Liquidity support in crises.