The Global South and German Foreign Policy under the Next Government

The rise of so-called emerging powers has led to renewed interest in South-South Cooperation (SSC) as an alternative to traditional North-South relations in international development cooperation. This chapter discusses the main controversies around SSC along the examples of India and China.

The G20 summit in Brazil will take place at a crossroads in the global power dynamic. The traditional dominance of the rich nations is being challenged by a more united Global South, while diplomatic bridges need to be built to address pressing economic, political, and environmental issues.

Latin America has emerged as a strategic partner for the EU in its efforts to diversify imports of critical raw materials with a view to safeguarding the energy transition, mitigating supply chain vulnerabilities, and reducing structural dependencies in the digital, defence, and aerospace sectors.

China’s Global Security Initiative projects its stability-focused security model abroad. How do East Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East perceive the GSI? What does this mean for the future of the international security order? And how should Germany and the EU best respond?

The US military buildup along Venezuela’s coast has raised expectations that Maduro’s regime will collapse under pressure. However, this would probably not result in a democratic transition. Even if Maduro is forced to step down, a change of guard within the regime remains the more likely scenario.

Converging economic interests provide the foundations for EU–Latin America strategic alignment but must translate into tangible outcomes beyond summit diplomacy. Genuine strategic partnership requires an expanded bi-regional agenda, including closer cooperation in the fields of defence and security.

Democratic decline is neither a given nor set in stone once occurring. Many countries have recovered and strengthened civic rights, even after acute episodes of autocratisation and amid a global crisis of democracy. Recognising these successes calls for the support of pro-democracy actors worldwide.

The recent diversification of external actors present in Africa has served to increase the agency of its governments but may also bolster poor governance and fuel conflict in the long run. Western powers must clarify their priorities regarding goals and partners, as well as examine own biases here.

The International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a test of Germany’s oft-stated commitment to global rules and norms. Berlin should uphold the rule of law by choosing principles over politics.

Trump’s disruptive policies could inadvertently provide the impetus to bring Europe and Latin America closer together. With smart policies, the incoming German government can leverage shared interests for a renewed partnership.

As conflicts reshape the MENA region, the new German government must balance diplomacy, security, and economics. From Syria to the Gulf, explored are Germany’s strategic options on leveraging EU cooperation, managing authoritarian shifts, and driving energy transitions for long-term stability.

Rethinking development policy: dismantling it would be fatal - it serves German interests and secures global goods. But “business as usual” is not enough: coordination and genuine partnerships with the Global South are necessary. Europe must create a more effective, multilateral offer.

We investigate how global publics evaluate the legitimacy of two GGIs—the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Group of Twenty (G20)—and multipolarity’s role in those evaluations.

Trotz ihrer Heterogenität sollte die Bedeutung der BRICS auch in sicherheitspolitischer Hinsicht nicht unterschätzt werden. Während interne Spannungen fortbestehen, gewinnt die Gruppe sowohl symbolisch als auch diskursiv an Einfluss – gerade im Globalen Süden.

This article assesses Saudi Arabia's ambivalent response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In concluding, the implications of the Kingdom's stance on the war for future global order-making are discussed.

The rise of so-called emerging powers has led to renewed interest in South-South Cooperation (SSC) as an alternative to traditional North-South relations in international development cooperation. This chapter discusses the main controversies around SSC along the examples of India and China.

The G20 summit in Brazil will take place at a crossroads in the global power dynamic. The traditional dominance of the rich nations is being challenged by a more united Global South, while diplomatic bridges need to be built to address pressing economic, political, and environmental issues.