Global South reclaiming intellectual space

There was a time when Broader West known mainly today as Global North used to hold global diplomatic events; provide platforms for international deliberations; plan aid distributions; and initiate global dialogues. As the rapid strategic shift is happening around the globe, non-Western nations are initiating their own dialogue platform. The common understanding that non-Western perspective is always being marginalised is prevailing ever more, given the realisation that the majority of the world population comprising the Global South has no say in decision-making. Although cities like Warsaw, Minsk and Budapest would surely be remembered for their role in making and breaking countries through dialogues, the shift has already taken place in favour of today’s Global South. The recent World Economic Forum meeting in Saudi Arabia, the 6^th World Forum of Intercultural Dialogue in Azerbaijan, the 18^th G20 Summit and BRICS meetings can be seen as the “truth of the 21^st century”.

Not only that the non-Western perspectives is getting heard but the tangible aftermath is amplifying their impact factor too: Brazil is becoming the biggest donor for Global South; Saudi Fund for Development is offering huge support for poverty reduction in Global South; UAE’s Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation and Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation are providing notable service; and China’s contribution to the Global South’s economy, which evolved from its firm belief in integrity, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, is also well-known.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan is the pioneer and the leader in providing different platforms for scientific research, international relations, interfaith harmony, academic discussions and global deliberations aiming to make this world a better and tolerant place for generations to come.

One of the most constructive platforms — launched by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Baku in 2011 — is World Forum of Intercultural Dialogue. The platform — offering cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary deliberations by huddling experts, heads of state, media-persons, policymakers, academicians and practitioners — has not missed any important global issue in the last 13 years.

The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is a component of the Baku Process that itself has emerged as one of the biggest events of Global Diplomacy. The ToRs of the Baku Process are based on the understanding that the ultimate goal of every nation-state is to build a safer, more secure and prosperous environment for its people; but global conflicts (physical as well as psychological) always challenge this goal. Therefore, platforms like the Baku Process can help mitigate adversaries by offering a place for mutual understanding of each other’s culture, histories and traditions. Since lack of understanding weakens all attempts to accommodate ideological differences and avert animosity and intolerance, the Baku Process plays an active role in building bridges and trust among civilisations and cultures using its multicultural experience and historical heritage.

The latest World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue was held on May 1-3 in Baku and Shusha and attended by over 700 delegates from 110 countries. The three-day Forum had 12 panel discussions on topics such as interfaith harmony, education, youth, climate change, AI, protection of cultural heritage, illegal migration, media influence over societies, women empowerment, etc.

It’s true that all these topics must have been discussed in the Broader West, but again with a Western perspective via Western trajectories. The absence of a non-Western perspective has driven humanity to a crossroads where one side is being affected by the decisions made by the other side. The Shusha Declaration is an example for global leaders that dialogue must not be single perspective-oriented, and must not echo self-serving agendas. Forums like Baku Process would be appreciated because they dig deep into issues and send ‘reminders’ that discussion is important, but the materialisation of the ideas is even more important. Informed collective decisions are the need of the hour if we really wish to move ahead without carrying the burden of hatred.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2024.

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