The liberal international order, characterized by rules-based multilateralism and values such as openness and representation, is often portrayed in terms of multiple crises. These crises, often analyzed from a Western perspective, include the reduced support of some Western powers towards certain multilateral institutions and the establishment of new ones by rising powers. However, these narratives often overlook the perspectives of low and middle-income countries, which is why in this episode, we shift our focus to understand how the Global South perceives and engages with this international order.

Rohan Mukherjee is an assistant professor at the Department of International Relations, at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). His latest book is Ascending Order: Rising Powers and the Politics of Status in International Institutions. @rohan_mukh

Key highlights

• Introduction – 00:24
• Global governance viewed from the Global South – 02:54
• Crisis of authority and new bargains – 09:57
• Rising powers and the politics of status – 16:05
• The quest for status and symbolic equality within the international system – 24:14
• Institutional openness and procedural fairness – 35:06
• Admitting rising powers into the great power club – 46:37

Host

Professor Dan Banik (@danbanik @GlobalDevPod)

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The ever-evolving world of global power dynamics is characterized by the complex relationships between large economies such as the United States and China and how these interactions are perceived and navigated by countries in the Global South. Understanding these dynamics requires a comprehensive view of how some countries, such as China, position themselves as a challenger to the existing world order and US hegemony through their economic, structural, and normative power. While many countries in the Global South are finding it challenging to navigate the complex terrain of great power competition, some are leveraging their unique positions to maximize benefits and assert their sovereignty. They engage strategically with multiple great powers, negotiating deals and leveraging relationships to their advantage, balancing economic needs, security concerns, and political aspirations.

Ilaria Carrozza is a senior researcher at the The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Her research focuses on understanding how China extends its influence abroad and challenges the existing world order. @ilaria_carrozza

Resources

• Shaping the Digital Architecture: Contested Norms on Digital Technology in Southeast Asia
• China’s Digital Silk Road and Malaysia’s Technological Neutrality
• Dual-Use AI Technology in China, the US and the EU: Strategic Implications for the Balance of Power
• Winds of Change? The Impact of Non-Western Powers’ Engagement in Afghanistan and the Sahel
• How Does the China-Russia Partnership Impact Security Dynamics in East Asia?

Key highlights

• Introduction – 00:24
• Great power competition viewed from the Global South – 03:30
• The Russia-China alliance and resurgence of the BRICS – 11:40
• Global development and global security concerns – 18:50
• Chinese versus Western alternatives – 37:42

Host

Professor Dan Banik (@danbanik @GlobalDevPod)

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Subscribe:

https://in-pursuit-of-development.simplecast.com

https://globaldevpod.substack.com/

A central theme in Ian Shapiro's extensive body of research is the concept of domination, which captures the reactive nature of human beings towards power structures. Unlike traditional political theories that imagine societies designing just orders from scratch, Ian argues that political institutions evolve in response to the rejection of unacceptable power dynamics. This reactive nature is evident in the historical shifts from feudalism to absolutism, and eventually to democracy, driven by people's resistance to absolute power.

Ian Shapiro is Sterling Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs at Yale University. In his latest book Uncommon Sense, he explores why citizens in many democracies are profoundly alienated and some democracies are in danger of failing.

Key highlights

• Introduction – 00:24
• The fight against domination – 02:50
• The role of political parties in resisting domination – 05:41
• Disillusionment with democracies and the role of deliberation – 11:24
• Amartya Sen and development as freedom – 23:16
• Betting on hope – 34:29

Host

Professor Dan Banik (@danbanik @GlobalDevPod)

Apple Spotify YouTube

Subscribe:

https://in-pursuit-of-development.simplecast.com

https://globaldevpod.substack.com/