Why the Global South is reassessing its relationship with the West

For decades, the West has positioned itself as the primary partner, mentor, and model for the developing world. Development aid, policy advice, and global governance frameworks were largely shaped in Western capitals, with the expectation that the rest of the world would follow. Many countries in the Global South accepted this framework, sometimes willingly, sometimes out of necessity.

Today, that relationship is being reassessed. This reassessment is not driven by ideology or hostility toward the West. It is driven by experience. For many nations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, decades of engagement with Western-led systems have not delivered the promised transformation. Industrialization has lagged, inequality has persisted, and dependence on commodity exports has remained stubbornly high. Policies prescribed by international financial institutions often weakened local industries and public services, while trade rules continued to favor advanced economies.

Over time, frustration has grown. Many policymakers and citizens alike have begun to ask why, after years of following recommended paths, their economies remain vulnerable and their development aspirations only partially fulfilled.

Another factor is the growing visibility of double standards. The language of democracy, human rights, and a rules-based international order is powerful, but it resonates less when applied inconsistently. When Western countries bend international rules, impose unilateral sanctions, or prioritize certain conflicts over others, it reinforces the perception that global norms are selectively enforced. This inconsistency has made many in the Global South more skeptical of moral lectures and more determined to chart their own course.

At the same time, the global landscape has changed. New partners have emerged, offering alternative sources of investment, technology, and political cooperation. China, India, Brazil, Türkiye, Gulf states and other rising powers have expanded their engagement with developing countries through infrastructure projects, trade agreements, and development financing. Platforms such as BRICS and other South-South initiatives have created new spaces for coordination outside traditional Western-led institutions.

For many governments, diversifying partnerships is not about choosing sides. It is about expanding options and reducing vulnerability. It is about pragmatism, not ideology.

There is also a growing sense of confidence across the Global South. With young populations, expanding cities, digital connectivity, and increasing economic weight, these countries are no longer passive actors in global affairs. They are markets, innovators, and political players whose voices matter. This confidence is reflected in foreign policies that prioritize strategic autonomy, cooperation with multiple partners, and resistance to being pulled into binary geopolitical camps.

None of this means the Global South is turning away from the West. Western countries remain crucial trade partners, investors, and sources of knowledge and technology. Cultural, educational, and people-to-people ties are deep and enduring. What is changing is the nature of expectations.

The Global South is no longer willing to accept relationships defined by hierarchy or dependency. It seeks partnerships based on mutual respect, shared interests, and recognition of diverse development paths. It wants cooperation without condescension, engagement without conditionality, and dialogue without lectures.

This moment is not a rupture. It is a recalibration.

The Global South has already begun reassessing its relationship with the West. The real test now is whether the West is willing to reassess its relationship with the Global South and embrace a world where influence is shared, not assumed.

The author is a journalist of the People's Daily Online South Africa. The views expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of People's Daily Online.