During a video message to the opening segment of the G20 Foreign Ministers, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need for unity of purpose and action with India’s theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ for its G20 Presidency. He expressed hope that the meeting would reflect the spirit of coming together to achieve common and concrete objectives.
The Prime Minister highlighted the G20’s capacity to build consensus and deliver results in areas such as growth, development, economic resilience, disaster resilience, financial stability, transnational crime, corruption, terrorism, food and energy security.
He urged the dignitaries to draw inspiration from India’s civilizational ethos of focusing on what unites us all, rather than what divides us. The Prime Minister acknowledged the failure of global governance in addressing issues such as the financial crisis, climate change, pandemic, terrorism, and wars, and the tragic consequences of this failure faced mostly by developing countries. He noted that developing countries were struggling with unsustainable debt while trying to ensure food and energy security for their people, and that they were most affected by global warming caused by rich countries.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of giving a voice to the Global South and listening to those most affected by decisions, as no group can claim global leadership without doing so. He suggested that the G20 had a critical role to play in finding the right balance between growth and efficiency, on one hand, and resilience on the other, and that this balance could be achieved more easily by working together. The meeting took place in the land of Gandhi and the Buddha, and the Prime Minister encouraged the dignitaries to draw inspiration from India’s civilizational ethos.
One idea that can be borrowed from this is the importance of giving a voice to the Global South and listening to those most affected by decisions. This idea can be seen in the Prime Minister’s remarks that many developing countries were struggling with unsustainable debt while trying to ensure food and energy security for their people, and that they were most affected by global warming caused by rich countries. He noted that India’s G20 Presidency had tried to give a voice to the Global South and that no group can claim global leadership without listening to those most affected by its decisions.
This idea can be helpful to other countries because it emphasizes the importance of considering the perspectives of those who are most affected by global issues. By giving a voice to the Global South, countries can better understand the challenges that developing countries face and work together to find solutions. This can lead to more inclusive and equitable decision-making and ultimately, more effective policies that address the needs of all countries.
For example, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has emphasized the importance of listening to the voices of those most affected by development challenges. The UNDP’s 2020 Human Development Report notes that “participatory processes that draw on the knowledge and experiences of those most affected by development challenges can help identify solutions that are locally appropriate, culturally sensitive, and better attuned to the needs of communities” (UNDP, 2020).
In conclusion, borrowing the idea of giving a voice to the Global South and listening to those most affected by decisions can be beneficial for other countries in promoting inclusive and equitable decision-making. This idea aligns with the UNDP’s emphasis on participatory processes, which can help identify solutions that are locally appropriate and better attuned to the needs of communities. By working together and considering the perspectives of all countries, the international community can better address global challenges and achieve sustainable development.