And the Rise of the Global South
Political Editorial Opinion
There are voices in the Western Countries, finally beginning to be heard. And while these voices are often stifled by the one dominant voice, it is becoming evermore apparent that the ‘Voice of America’, no longer speaks for much of the west, if not all.
The United States has had its ‘economic way’ for 80 years, but the reality is that while America’s influence is not simply waning, but imploding, the Global South no longer accepts that the United States speaks for them.
America has lost its moral authority in the eyes of much of the world. It’s ‘flailing and failing’ is readily apparent. Led by a man without any positive character attributes, it has become obvious that the more America attempts to assert itself, particularly with constant denigration of former friends and allies, and by its ‘hemispheric hegemonic demands’, that respect and acceptance of the United States is waning as well.
The Rise of The Global South
If there is one reality that must be addressed, it is that, as Mark Carney the Prime Minister of Canada and Alexander Stubb, the President of Finland have not just intimated but clearly articulated in no uncertain terms, “The Old Order is now Dead”.
The chimera of accommodation is gone. The “King of the Old Order”, is naked, and every other leader can now see that fact, clearly and in great detail, unfortunately, for it is a vision that offends one’s sensibilities, if not always its eyes.
All the signs, all the symptoms point to the quickly tarnishing exterior of the Western Vehicle, while its engine begins to sputter and its transmission engages with a distinctive ‘clunk’.
And so it is that by the former superordinate power’s assertions of continued dominance and hemispheric sabre-rattling, it is actually drawing overt attention to its weaknesses.
But it is not just the failure of the former superpower, which is at fault. The superpower’s grip on the west, is not only waning, but its ignorance of the Global South, along with its increasingly militaristic behaviour is only pointing to its ever-increasing vulnerability.
As Kishore Mahbubani states in Foreign Affairs, “this is the last chance for Western countries to convince the rest of the world that they are capable of dialogue rather than monologue… The countries of the global south do not all share the dominant Western perspectives about world order.”
Whereas the world’s supposed only ‘superpower’, attempts to throw its weight around like a schoolyard bully, it has alienated its former friends and allies alike. In fact, it’s stated hegemonic goals are out of touch with the reality of what is rapidly becoming a new world order that will leave the ‘superpower’ with only one option. And that is an awareness that the world is not only ‘multipolar’ and not Unipolar, but the model of its view as the preeminent global power in now, simply a lie.
Military Power Alone Illustrates Powerlessness
As the superpower continues to evermore overtly express itself by ‘throwing its military weight around’, whether in the Middle East or in Central and South America, it has become evermore obvious that by so doing it clearly illustrates its loss of ‘soft power’ and how the world’s nations are almost universally ignoring its demands.
While policymakers in the U.S. prove themselves to be further and further out of touch with the realities evidenced by other nations, China and to a lesser, but steadily growing extent, India, have clearly articulated a different vision for, and to, the Global South.
Middle Powers, like Canada, France, Germany, and to a lesser=extent, the UK, have that the United States, no longer speaks for them, and in fact, does not ‘speak to them’ in a way that illustrates either understanding or acceptance of that fact.
The middle powers have reached a decision, long in having been articulated, but now clearly evinced.
America neither represents their interests, or, their opinions.
Zero-Sum competitive or conflictual relationship where ‘dominance’ and thus subjugation is ‘expected’, is no longer accepted. Edicts fall on, if not deaf ears, ones that no longer hear quite as well.
At a time when America is attempting to ‘subject’ hemispheric control, the hemisphere is saying; “We don’t believe in what you have to say, we don’t like the way you say it, and maybe it’s time to not just listen, but focus on the message of the ‘others’.
Two Sides to the Coin – Two Realities
The west, and most of its population, agree that Russian Imperialist Aggression and its invasion of Ukraine is immoral. And, no doubt, this is true. But the underlying ’causes’ for its occurrence requires some nuance, some appreciation as to ‘why’ the west is seen as ‘complicit’ in the actions that Russia actually took, beginning in 2014.
As Kishore Mahbubani articulated in his article, “The Dream Palace of the West – Why the Old Order is Gone for Good”,
“Putin shouldn’t have invaded Ukraine. But it’s not just Putin who is guilty. The United States and EU are also guilty.”
In his article he asserts that the reason for Putin’s invasion was the constant pressure from the West that provoked Russian aggression. John Mearsheimer’s suggests that the actions taken back in April of 2006, by the United States and Europe, stating that Ukraine would become part of NATO, are responsible for Russia’s subsequent invasion of Crimea in 2014 and Ukraine in 2022.
Blame is a hard word to assign to any nation’s actions, but it is not hard to comprehend why Russia might well perceive of Ukraine’s entry into both NATO and the EU, would be seen by the Russian’s as unacceptable.
In any event, the following events of ‘defence’ in relation to the uprising (obviously sponsored by Russia) by supplying Ukraine with U.S. weapons, and NATO’s expansionist threats, as seen by Russia, in Georgia and Ukraine, likely precipitated Russia’s actions.
Hypocrisy in Action
The events in Ukraine, for obvious reasons for Europeans, elicited and elicits deep concern and the west’s new rise in militarism and the rapid procurement cycle in the EU, and the west overall.
But from the perspective the Global South, the EU and America’s willingness to ignore Israel’s complete destruction of Gaza, clearly smacks of hypocrisy.
As Mahbubani suggests;
“Not only have many more civilians died in Gaza than in Ukraine, but Israeli military actions, according to estimates published in Foreign Affairs and elsewhere, may have led to the deaths of five to ten percent of Gaza’s prewar population – a staggering figure, exponentially higher than the toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine. No one respects an adulterous priest who preaches marital fidelity in Church. But this is how European leaders are seen in the global south. And it’s a key reason whey the West is losing the rest.”
Cause and Effect
The actions by both America and by the EU in relation to Gaza have been disastrous in relation to the perceptions of the Global South, and should be the case for any reasonable and rational person living in the West.
Rather than condemning Israel and America’s actions in Gaza, it essentially remained silent, pointing out its hypocrisy.
I too believe that what Israel and the United States have done to the Palestinians and to Gaza is unconscionable. But by the EU remaining silent and only hearing their own ‘interest’ in Ukraine, they have alienated the Global South.
In addition, the EU, with a population of 500,000 is; as Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk put it in March of 2025, “500 million Europeans are begging 300 million Americans for protection from 140 million Russians who have been unable to overcome 50 million Ukrainians for three years.”
Ideological Acceptance
If the western nations are to thrive in the future, there needs to be a comprehensive understanding that the old world order, is over.
Both the United States, Europe and the U.K. need to come to the realization that attempting to reinstate what is already no more, is futile.
American influence has been destroyed. America may well still remain ‘powerful’, especially militarily, but it will undoubtedly wane over time. Its actions towards former allies, trade partners and neighbours will not be rebuilt, irrespective of America’s future actions.
Canada, will because of its proximity, remain as a trading partner with the United States, however it will no longer accept being a ‘junior partner’ in the relationship. As Canada’s trade increases both with Europe, Japan, Korea, and yes, China, it will continuously seek to add distance to the relationship that has existed with the United States.
But Canadians are not naive. It takes time to recreate trade with other nations that serves the interests of both parties, particularly with respect to balancing the value of that relationship to both parties.
However, Canada’s middle powers status and the richness of its resources will mean that trade blocs like the TransPacific Partnership, MERCOSUR, the EU and the emerging economies of places like Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines will not be ignored.
Canada is a trading nation. One that seeks to foster more collaborative relationships with countries that illustrate that irrespective of ideology, both parties can prosper through understanding, dialogue and finding common interests.
Canada will not be a partner to any future zero-sum relationship, even if the partner is either a superpower or on the way to becoming one.
Final Thoughts
Now, the world is watching as Russia’s war in Ukraine is starting year five. There are two options in order to bring an end to this debacle for Ukraine, for Europe and for the United States, which is seen by the world, especially the Global South as uniquely responsible for the current situation.
And whether one agrees or disagrees with that assertion, actions being taken by the United States do not provide any faith that the United States is truly interested in resolving the war in Ukraine, or the plight of the Palestinians.
What needs to happen is either the EU and the coalition of the willing provide Ukraine with the means to win or, an unjust peace will see America pressure Ukraine to surrender territory to Russia for it’s own gain ( the acquisition of resources) and will only be a respite to war, not its end (likely only temporary).
And, while Russia may well not ‘accept’ that the coalition of the willing, including the EU will remain in Ukraine, that may well be the only action that actual both forestalls and prevents further Russian Imperialist aggression in Europe.
Of course, an attack, once again by Russia to either take back the Baltic States or to force Georgia back into Russia is still possible. The only real option for Europe is to accept that it must develop its military, whether that falls under the umbrella of NATO or a new European military force that includes members of the coalition of the willing, like Canada.
Canada’s closer integration to Europe is likely inevitable due to geography and US hegemonic aims. Its diversification is inevitable as well as it building its military strength, its resilience and a closer relationship with other middle powers other than the EU, like Japan, Korea and Australia/New Zealand.
As a middle powers Canada will need to balance the building of a closer relationship with China while remaining in a trade relationship with the United States, however only as an ‘equal’ trading partner, no longer subservient.
Canada will not ‘fall into line’ under American pressure, as America has prove that it cannot be trusted. The ‘rupture’ will last generationally, regardless of a change of government and America’s return to that of a democratic nation, which it can certainly be argued, no longer is.
Either way, the world will be no safer. Ukraine will continue to militarize, by necessity. Russia will do likewise because unless Putin and Russia’s hardliners are somehow overthrown, it is unlikely that Russia will be appeased, now having lost more than 1.25 million men in the current conflict.
Meanwhile the U.S., fearful of Chinas intentions, and having lost influence both in Europe, Canada and the Global South will abandon Europe entirely, likely to leave NATO and focus on resisting China in Central America, South America, Asia and the Pacific.
For Canada, the risks will still exist. In order for Canada to be able to thrive in the future it will require deft balance between the gravity of the US, while building military independence and fostering new integrated relationships with other middle powers, like the EU, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Australia/New Zealand.
Irrespective of how one views the United States and its hegemonic goals, it is unlikely to be successful in foreign interventionism. The Global South will likely increasingly fall under China’s sphere of influence as it is building commerce and ‘relationships’ within the Global South whereby both party’s interests are met, such as the Silk Road initiative.
The fact that the Global South does not share in the US vision of dominance, likely suggests that as Stubb states;
“This is the last chance for western countries to convince the rest of the world that why are capable of dialogue rather than monologue.”
“Western leaders and pundits who cast the CCP as a villain and call for the equivalent of regime change in Beijing are unaware that they look perfectly ridiculous in the yes of the 88 percent of the world’s population that lives outside the west.”
According to Stubb, the Global South would enthusiastically support a different model. A rules-based world order underpinned by a set of well-functioning international institutions that enshrine fundamental values remains the best way to prevent competition leading to collision.”
This is exactly what Canada is promoting.
Unfortunately, the United States is apparently only interested in American dominance, which almost guarantees that it will be unsuccessful.
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