Demarginalizing developing countries

Résumé détaillé

It reflects the changing distribution of economic power, the growing importance of developing countries and their demand for a greater role in shaping the international order. Two…

The new multilateral institutions of the Global South promote more inclusive democratic representation in the international system and common development

The emergence of new multilateral institutions is one of the most significant developments in contemporary international relations. It reflects the changing distribution of economic power, the growing importance of developing countries and their demand for a greater role in shaping the international order.

Two questions arise. The first concerns legitimacy: How can the growing economic and demographic weight of the Global South be reconciled with its uneven representation in international decision-making? The second concerns development: What accompanying elements are necessary so that new institutions enable developing countries to pursue their own priorities, strengthen their productive capabilities and improve the lives of their populations?

These questions are connected. The ability to influence international governance matters not simply because it confers political status, but because international institutions help determine the conditions under which countries can develop.

Consider the international financial architecture. Voting power in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank reflects financial contributions and economic criteria rather than the principle of one country, one vote. Population is not a direct component of the IMF quota formula. Neither population nor sovereign equality is reflected in the same way as economic weight and financial participation. As a result, many developing countries lack adequate representation in global decision-making.

This brings us to the debate over the so-called rules-based international order. International law has recognized sources and establishes legal obligations. The expression "rules-based order", by contrast, does not define a single, universally agreed legal framework. The two concepts can overlap, but they are not automatically synonymous.

When…

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