Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a greater role for the Global South in shaping international rules and institutions, saying developing countries must move from being “rule-takers” to “rule-shapers”. Addressing the opening session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, PM Modi said countries of the Global South are often at the “front row” when global crises strike but remain in the “back row” when key decisions are made.
The session, titled ‘Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism’, was attended by BRICS leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Describing the existing global governance system as a “pyramid”, PM Modi said power and decision-making remain concentrated among a few countries, while nations affected by those decisions have limited say in shaping them. “The current structure of global governance resembles a pyramid: power and decision-making are concentrated at the top, while the lower tiers consist of nations that are affected by these decisions yet unable to shape them,” PM Modi said.
Earlier reporting noted: “Today, the Global South stands in the front row of global crises but in the back row of decision-making. PM Modi also called for voting rights, leadership positions and policy priorities in global financial institutions to better reflect present-day economic realities. We must transform this pyramid of privilege into a platform of partnership – one where every nation has a voice, every member has a stake, and the development of humanity lies at the heart of every endeavour. He also called for strengthening BRICS.
To this end, I propose that we jointly formulate 10 proposals for global governance reform, aiming to shape them into a BRICS reform roadmap by the time of the next summit,” PM Modi said at the BRICS Summit that is underway in New Delhi.
Earlier reporting noted: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for strengthening BRICS and transforming the “pyramid of privilege” that pushes the Global South to the “back row of decision-making”, while seeking to allay Western anxieties regarding the grouping by clarifying that “we are not against anyone”. Earlier reporting noted: Elaborating on the pyramid analogy, PM Modi said the current global governance structure keeps power and decision-making concentrated at the top.
PM Modi called on BRICS countries to jointly draw up 10 proposals for reforming global governance, with the aim of turning them into a BRICS reform roadmap by the next summit.
The Prime Minister said BRICS must use its growing influence to push for reforms in international institutions, with representation, responsiveness and rule-making forming the three broad pillars of the proposed roadmap. A key priority, he said, should be reform of the United Nations Security Council, which “can no longer be delayed”.
