The hottest Global South Substack posts right now

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Top World Politics Topics

How China's "debt traps" actually work

Noahpinion • 24823 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Global South Geopolitics
  1. China's Belt and Road investments often involve loans to build infrastructure projects, which can lead to financial burden on recipient countries
  2. Many Belt and Road projects suffer from poor planning and execution, resulting in infrastructure that fails to generate sufficient revenue
  3. China's approach to debt through Belt and Road projects risks souring its image in the international community and creating resentment among borrower countries

‘Western dominance has ended’, EU foreign-policy chief admits, warning of ‘West against the Rest’ geopolitics

Geopolitical Economy Report • 1116 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Diplomacy International relations Global South UN
  1. The era of Western dominance has ended, according to the EU foreign-policy chief. Europe should not see the world as 'the West against the Rest'.
  2. Global geopolitical tensions could push Europe into a bleak future. Europe must improve relations with the Global South to avoid becoming geopolitically irrelevant.
  3. In international forums like the UN, Europe often aligns with the US against the majority of countries from the Global South. This shows a stark division in voting patterns.

Which court could try Putin?

A Lawyer Writes • 255 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics International Law Global South
  1. The International Criminal Court cannot try Putin for the crime of aggression due to certain limitations.
  2. There is a push for the establishment of a strictly international tribunal to address justice for Putin's actions.
  3. Support for a new tribunal to try Putin has been shown by various international bodies, but challenges remain in the process.
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US votes against peace in Gaza, defying vast majority of planet at UN

Geopolitical Economy Report • 857 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics UN Israel Palestine US Global South
  1. The vast majority of countries supported a proposed humanitarian truce in Gaza at the UN, with 121 countries in favor and very few against.
  2. The Global South largely backed the humanitarian truce, including countries in Asia, Africa, and even a few in Europe.
  3. Venezuela's voice was blocked at the UN due to illegal US sanctions, impacting its ability to participate in key votes regarding Gaza.

Deconstructing the Hegemony; Reconstructing the Pluriverse — II

Pluriversal Planet • 216 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🚌 Education Colonialism Hegemony Philanthropy Propaganda Global South
  1. Participatory democracy is a myth in a world dominated by Eurocentric and profit-centered ideologies.
  2. Hegemony and regeneration are conflicting philosophies, with efforts towards a pluriversal world being hindered by hidden hegemonic tactics.
  3. Tools of hegemony include philanthropy, propaganda, and education, which perpetuate control, maintain the status quo, and limit diverse perspectives.

In Africa, Russia is playing the West like a fiddle

An Africanist Perspective • 573 implied HN points • 09 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Global South Sovereignty Foreign Policy International relations
  1. Russia's influence in Africa is hyped up in Western media compared to its actual economic and military ties with African states.
  2. African states respond to Russia based on their specific interests and not as puppets, often driven by the desire to access resources at lower costs, especially amidst economic constraints.
  3. African nations should be cautious not to overly rely on Russia militarily or economically, aiming to prioritize domestic sovereignty and economic growth by carefully considering policy decisions and avoid getting deeply entwined with Russia.

'World becoming more multipolar', Western hegemony declining, admits European Central Bank

Geopolitical Economy Report • 757 implied HN points • 22 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Hegemony Global South
  1. Western hegemony is declining as the world shifts towards a more multipolar geopolitical landscape.
  2. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde acknowledged the rise of China and the decline of US dollar hegemony.
  3. The US dollar system has negatively impacted the Global South, undervaluing currencies and creating financial crises.

Russia leaves neoliberal West to join World Majority - Economists Radhika Desai and Michael Hudson explain

Geopolitical Economy Report • 717 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics International relations Neoliberalism Global South
  1. Russia is turning away from the West and moving towards integration with the 'World Majority' in the Global South.
  2. There is a shift towards a multipolar world order, with countries like China and Russia promoting a move away from Western finance capitalism towards a more socialist global majority.
  3. Keynes' proposals for a new international financial system, including bancor and International Clearing Union, are being revisited by China and show a push away from the dominance of the US dollar.

BRICS Bank de-dollarizing, promises 30% of loans in local currencies, new chief Dilma Rousseff says

Geopolitical Economy Report • 657 implied HN points • 18 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics BRICS De-dollarization Global South Foreign Exchange
  1. The BRICS New Development Bank is moving away from the US dollar and intends to provide 30% of loans in local currencies to member countries.
  2. The initiative to de-dollarize loans is seen as a step towards helping member countries avoid exchange rate risks and finance shortages that can hinder long-term investments.
  3. There is a push within BRICS, led by figures like Dilma Rousseff and Lula da Silva, to challenge US dollar dominance in global financial transactions and promote fairer systems of monetary exchange.

Colonialism or sovereignty? How the global financial system traps countries in debt

Geopolitical Economy Report • 358 implied HN points • 12 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Debt crisis Global South Foreign Investment Financial system
  1. The global financial system traps countries in debt, reinforcing a neocolonial order, preventing development and prosperity.
  2. China's lending practices may not create a debt trap, but there are concerns about desperation for resources and risks of corruption.
  3. To address the systemic issues, a new financial system must be considered, one that focuses on canceling debts, renationalizing utilities, and reining in financial imperialism for broad-based prosperity and ecologically sustainable growth.

Origins of debt: Michael Hudson reveals how financial oligarchies in Greece & Rome shaped our world

Geopolitical Economy Report • 458 implied HN points • 25 May 23
💾 History Debt Religion Global South Economic Systems
  1. Debt has a long history in shaping societies, from ancient Mesopotamia to Rome, and understanding this history can provide insights into modern debt-based economies.
  2. There have always been alternatives to the debt-centric economic models, with concepts like debt forgiveness and economic balance being seen as sacred in many ancient civilizations.
  3. US and other first-world countries should consider the moral implications of collecting debt from struggling Global South countries, especially when it's used to fuel conflicts and harm society.

West tells Global South 'you can't be neutral' in Ukraine war: You are either with us, or against us

Geopolitical Economy Report • 558 implied HN points • 22 Feb 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Neutrality Global South Russia-Ukraine conflict
  1. The foreign ministers of the US, Germany, and Ukraine emphasized that neutrality is not an option in NATO's proxy war with Russia
  2. Majority of the global population, especially in the Global South, have remained neutral in the Ukraine proxy war
  3. There is a historical backdrop of Western attacks on the Non-Aligned Movement, with Western powers trying to paint neutral countries as supporters of the Soviet-led bloc

A new Third World debt crisis? The need for system change

Geopolitical Economy Report • 299 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Debt crisis Global South Climate Crisis Financialization
  1. The debt crisis in the Global South is growing, requiring forgiveness and system change.
  2. Past debt crises in the 1980s had significant impacts, leading to lost decades of development.
  3. The current crisis is influenced by short-term financial perspectives, global commodity markets, and ecological destruction.

Is multi-aligned, non-aligned by another name?

The Global Jigsaw • 98 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Global South BRICS Diplomacy International relations
  1. The Global South is asserting autonomy in geopolitical relationships beyond traditional Western alliances.
  2. BRICS+ countries, with economic and demographic strength, are challenging the influence of the G7 nations.
  3. India's adept multi-alignment approach is positioning it favorably amidst global power dynamics.

87% of world doesn't support West's new cold war on Russia

Geopolitical Economy Report • 338 implied HN points • 23 Sep 22
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Global South Neutrality Sanctions
  1. 87% of the world does not support the West's new cold war on Russia.
  2. New multilateral institutions like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS are gaining importance for countries in the Global South.
  3. There's a shift in the global financial landscape with a decline in US dollar hegemony and countries exploring alternatives like bilateral currency swaps.

The Global South, BRICS, and the G20

Comment is Freed • 82 implied HN points • 13 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Global South BRICS Russia
  1. The 'Global South' is not a homogenous group and has its distinct dynamics and interests.
  2. BRICS countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa share economic significance and political viewpoints, such as advocating for multipolarity and de-dollarisation.
  3. Diplomatic peace initiatives by countries like Brazil, African nations, Saudi Arabia, and others demonstrate a shifting international landscape in response to the Russo-Ukraine War.

In neocolonial rant, EU says Europe is 'garden' superior to rest of world's barbaric 'jungle'

Geopolitical Economy Report • 239 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🌍 World Politics Global South Cold War
  1. The speech by EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell highlighted a colonialist mentality still present in Europe, with him portraying Europe as a 'garden' that must civilize the 'jungle' of the rest of the world.
  2. Borrell hinted at the EU's involvement in a new cold war, aiming for regime change in Russia to create a 'post-Putin Russia' that aligns with Western interests.
  3. Borrell expressed disappointment at 'too many' countries abstaining in a UN vote against Russia and made strong remarks about the potential of nuclear war in the conflict, stating the Russian Army would face annihilation.

End of The Year Mudbath Overkill

Euro Desk Paris • 19 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics European Union Immigration Culture Geopolitics Global South
  1. The European Union faces challenges in maintaining peace and unity amidst conflicts like the war in Ukraine.
  2. Leaders in Europe may need to address the issue of refugees and develop a strategy for peace during the holiday season.
  3. Criticisms towards the Euro and EU leadership suggest a need for open debate and potential changes to current structures.

US pushing war on China: Malaysia's ex PM explains imperialism's roots in capitalism

Geopolitical Economy Report • 199 implied HN points • 31 Aug 22
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Imperialism Capitalism Global South
  1. Malaysian ex-PM warns US is trying to start a war with China over Taiwan.
  2. Imperialism is described as rooted in capitalism, enabling economic exploitation of the Global South.
  3. There is a critique on unrestricted capitalism leading to monopolies, disinterest in social needs, and imbalance in trade relationships.

Cambridge Study Shows High Favourability for China

Richard’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 09 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics China Global South Foreign Policy
  1. Study by University of Cambridge shows 70% of the world view China favorably, except for Western countries at 23%.
  2. Western countries are shown to have negative views towards China fueled by fear of loss of dominance, jealousy, and inability to address their own issues.
  3. Divergence in perception of China between Global South and Global North highlighted, with Pew Research's biased survey showing negative views from Global North.