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Image: Kabir Jhangiani/ZUMA Press/picture allianceImage: Kabir Jhangiani/ZUMA Press/picture alliance

Global South

The Global South refers to states often described as "developing nations," mostly located in the Southern Hemisphere. By 2030, the Global South will likely include two of the world's largest economies, China and India.

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All Content on this topic

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (l) shakes hands with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (r) at Hyderabad House in New Delhi

'Alles gut!': New Delhi, Berlin eager to bolster ties

Amid geopolitical tensions at Europe's and Asia's doorsteps, India and Germany are both eager to deepen bilateral ties.
PoliticsOctober 26, 2024
An illustration showing a stream of US dollars being dropepd into a funnel and exiting the bottom as Chinese yuan

Dedollarization: How the West boosts China's yuan

Sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war have spurred record trade in China's currency, but could it usurp the dollar?
TradeSeptember 12, 2024
Loggers work loading timber logs, surrounded by piles of felled trees

Earth has already exceeded 2024 annual ecological limits

To continue living the way we do, humanity would need the resources of more than 1 1/2 planets.
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 1, 2024
Doku Plan KW 28

Shifting powers: NATO and the Global South

NATO calls itself the strongest and most successful defense alliance in the world.
PoliticsJuly 9, 202428:33 min
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu points to a diagram showing how far along Iran is with building its nuclear program.

Political 'red lines': Useful deterrent, or dangerous talk?

World leaders often declare "red lines" to keep opponents and allies in check. Do they work? And what if no one listens?
PoliticsJune 16, 2024
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (center) gathers with other BRICS leaders

How South Africa is working to become a new global player

South Africa isn't just the strongest industrial nation on the continent, it's also making a diplomatic name for itself.
PoliticsMay 26, 2024
A mural showing fish and other aquatic life covers the facade of the Venice Biennale's Central Pavilion

2024 Venice Biennale highlights art of the Global South

The 60th Venice Biennale is featuring artists from across the Global South, celebrating changing perspectives.
ArtsApril 20, 202402:51 min
Rice fields in India

MSC 2024: No international security without the Global South

Can more guests from the Global South at the Munich Security Conference help bridge a growing rift?
PoliticsFebruary 17, 2024
Vladimir Putin addresses the BRICS summit in August 2023

Will BRICS expansion set a new agenda for the Global South?

The five-nation bloc is expanding, and so is its influence. Can the alliance challenge Western political dominance?
PoliticsDecember 29, 2023
Free-standing house with partially collapsed outer walls

COP 28 and climate reparations for the Global South

At COP27, rich countries vowed to help poor ones cover climate-related losses. Is a deal in sight?
Nature and EnvironmentDecember 8, 202304:01 min
Brazil's president Lula holding German chancellor Olaf Scholz's arm

Germany-Brazil ties: Lula pushes Global South agenda

As Scholz welcomes the Brazilian president, Lula's importance as a mouthpiece for the Global South keeps growing.
PoliticsDecember 3, 2023
UN Secretary General Guterres speaks at a podium, next to a sign for the SDG Summit 2023

UN Sustainable Development Goals: Losing the race

Growing tensions between the Global South and Western economic powerhouses overshadowed the UN SDG summit in New York.
PoliticsSeptember 20, 2023
Modi waves as he arrives at Bharat Mandapam convention center for the G20 Summit

AU to join G20 as India boosts Global South

By helping the African Union earn a seat at the G20 table, India has emerged as a champion of the Global South.
PoliticsSeptember 9, 2023
Christoph Heusgen, Munich Security Conference chairman

Heusgen: G20 must meet Global South at eye-level

Munich Security Conference chairman Christoph Heusgen speaks to DW ahead of the G20 summit in India.
PoliticsSeptember 7, 202304:05 min
Two people walk past the Sandton Convention Center, which is hosting the BRICS Summit

BRICS club boom: What to expect in Johannesburg

Global South versus Global North? The BRICS summit in South Africa will be all about expansion and sanctions.
PoliticsAugust 22, 2023
protesters stand on the edge of a coal mine

Humans now living on ecological credit

The planet has hit Earth Overshoot Day, meaning that humanity has used more resources than it can regenerate this year.
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 2, 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

With G20 in India, Global South addresses West

Many countries in the Global South are seeking a chance to redefine their relations with the West.
PoliticsFebruary 28, 2023
China | BRICS Gipfel in Peking

Ukraine war: Is the West out of touch with the Global South?

The world is not united in its reaction to Russia's invasion in Ukraine. Find out the reasons why.
PoliticsFebruary 25, 202339:49 min
Kenia Hirten profitieren vom Handel mit Klimarechten

Meet Kenyan pastoralists living off carbon credit sales

A community in Samburu county is earning fortunes from wealthy polluters through climate-smart practices
SocietyDecember 8, 202202:16 min
Protesters with a banner 'Pay your climate debt'

Loss and damage: What happens next?

An agreement has been reached on a loss and damage fund. Now what?
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 21, 2022
Währung | Euro, Yuan und Dollar

Who’s gonna pay for climate change?

In this special episode, five experts talk about how rich countries can pay up for the harm inflicted by climate change.
ClimateNovember 18, 202230:00 min
visitors view and photograph a large artwork

As documenta 15 closes, antisemitic taint lingers

How did antisemitic imagery overshadow art at the five-yearly international show billed as a statement of diversity?
CultureSeptember 23, 2022
Sicherheitsschwachstelle Log4J

Ransomware: Cyber criminals are coming for the Global South

Hackers zero in on organizations in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. They often find easy targets.
PoliticsAugust 28, 2022
Cardinals in Rome prior to Mass

Pope finds compatible clergy in Global South

Many of the church's newest cardinals hail from Asia, Africa and Latin America and are known for progressive policies.
ReligionAugust 26, 2022
Mathias Mogge

Climate justice must be more than a promise

Mathias Mogge
The G7 countries should finally take responsibility for the climate crisis — and act on it.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 25, 2022
People stand at the door of a hut with a tin roof by Lazarus Gachanja from Kenya.

Documenta art show focuses on Global South

Collectives from Africa, Asia and South America take center stage at the international exhibition held every five years.
ArtsJune 17, 2022
Kiribati | Ein Junge auf dem Weg zur Schule

Inside Europe: the things COP26 can't fix

What does climate justice mean on a planet where whole nations are disappearing under the waves?
ClimateNovember 7, 202112:06 min

Environmentalists say COP26 is overwhelmingly white and rich

The countries hit hardest by climate change are struggling to attend a UN climate summit.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 3, 2021
A cow standind in a sparse landscape in Namibia

How to feed the world amid COVID and climate crises

Quick solutions are needed for spiraling food insecurity in the global south, including putting more meat on the plate.
Nature and EnvironmentJanuary 20, 2021
Indien Hitzewelle und Trockenheit

The global injustice of the climate crisis

Countries that are least responsible for causing climate change are the ones suffering most from its effects.
Nature and EnvironmentAugust 28, 2019
US-branded grain being tipped from one container into another

West meets South-South

The West could learn something from new non-Western aid donors, argue Axel Berger and Sven Grimm.
September 7, 2010