In the past few decades, the balance of power has shifted on the global political chessboard. This turn has been influenced partly by the emergence of new powers and multiple nations, such as India and Brazil, as well as various key countries in the Middle East. And these regions have become proactive from objects to subjects of international politics. They are constructing global governance, economic structures, and security frameworks. Their presence in organisations such as BRICS, the G20 and the UN is emblematic of a multipolar world in which leverage is progressively shared across more than just Western centres of influence. This first article shows these new economies’ impact on global governance and their geopolitical strategies in international organizations.
Emerging Powers and Their Growing Influence
Emerging markets are already influencing global politics and economics. Countries like India and Brazil exert influence through international forums, such as the BRICS, the G20, and the United Nations. Their expanding role mirrors a movement toward a more multipolar world in which developing countries have a pivotal role in decision-making.
India: A Rising Democratic Power
India, the planet’s largest democracy and fifth largest economy by GDP, is steadily increasing its fruit on the world stage. India, with its strong focus on multilateralism, has balanced its relations with global superpowers while also portraying itself as the leader of the Global South. Its participation in international institutions signals its aspirations:
BRICS
India played a significant role in ensuring that BRICS served as a countervailing force against institutions dominated by the West. It has backed efforts such as the New Development Bank (NDB), which was designed to fund infrastructure projects in developing countries and lessen dependence on Western financial institutions. Moreover, India’s rising technological prowess—notably, in its digital economy and robust space exploration program—only enhances its positioning in BRICS.
G20
As it debates issues in the G20, India has focused on aggressive climate action, inclusive economic growth, and digital transformation. India’s hosting of the G20 summit in 2023 focused on issues like sustainable development, debt restructuring for developing countries, and increasing cooperation in addressing finance for climate challenges. Moreover, India has used the G20 to strengthen South-South cooperation and promote global policymaking objectives relevant to emerging economies .
United Nations
India has long campaigned for permanent membership in the UN Security Council (UNSC), claiming that its economic and demographic heft requires an increased representation. It has also played an active role in UN peacekeeping missions and has pushed for comprehensive reform of UN institutions to reflect the realities of contemporary power politics better.
India’s strategic partnerships with both Western and non-Western nations demonstrate its pragmatic approach to diplomacy. India has also emerged as a champion of the BRICS, including freeloaders like Russia and China, so it is not aligned but influential on the global stage while conducting the Quad Alliance with the US.
Brazil: A Regional Leader with Global Ambitions
Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, is a key player in regional politics and global governance. Brazil is a resource-rich nation whose trade, environment , and social development policies resonate globally. Its role in international organizations highlights its ambitions:
BRICS
Brazil sees the BRICS as a mechanism for South-South cooperation and a way to lessen its reliance on Western institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. It has used the BRICS to press for fairer terms of trade for developing countries and more financial aid for infrastructure projects in Latin America.
G20
Brazil has been a strong voice for developing countries in the G20, pushing to ensure that issues that matter to poorer nations, such as agriculture, climate change, and financial regulation, are represented. It has also called for changes in global economic governance, especially reforms to increase access to international credit for emerging markets.
Brazil at the U.N
The country has long championed reforms for the United Nations, especially the Security Council, to represent Latin American interests better. It has also led UN peacekeeping missions, especially in Haiti, highlighting its dedication to global stability.
Brazil has also shaped its global influence through its environmental policies. As the steward of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil is essential to the worldwide climate conversation. Despite the ongoing tensions between economic growth and environmental protection, Brazil has promised to reduce deforestation and promote sustainable development efforts.
The Middle East: A Geopolitical and Economic Powerhouse
The Middle East has leverage in global politics and influential players like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, Turkey, etc. Geopolitically, these countries shape energy markets, trade routes, and regional security dynamics.
BRICS
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and Iran entered BRICS in 2023, signaling the transition to multipolarity in the global economy. The enlargement provides BRICS with more significant counterweight to Western dominance, and enhances trade between the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.
G20
Saudi Arabia is the sole Middle Eastern member of the G20. The kingdom is using its position to advocate for stability in the oil market, economic diversification, and regional development. It has also pushed for energy security and climate adaptation policies to be a focus of G20 discussions.
United Nations
Middle Eastern countries are at the forefront of UN efforts to respond to regional crises, but educational woes hinder progress. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have played pivotal roles in diplomatic negotiations, and Turkey has carved out its estate as a power broker in international disputes.
The geopolitical standing of the Middle East is also experiencing a renaissance through economic diversification. Gulf nations have initiated ambitious economic diversification plans, such as Saudi Vision 2030 and the UAE’s initiatives to become a global technology and logistics hub. These initiatives are emblematic of the region’s broader ambitions to shake off oil dependence and position itself as a hub for trade, finance, and innovation.
The Role of Emerging Powers in Global Governance
Emerging powers are reshaping global governance through demands for more excellent representation and inclusive decision-making structures. They advocate for reforms in financial institutions, trade policies, and multilateral organizations to better reflect their economic and political power. They increasingly engage in diplomacy, security, and sustainability, committing to a multipolar world order with more balance.
Economic Strategies and Trade Policies
Emerging economies increasingly set the agenda for global economic policies. India, Brazil and the Middle East have actively lobbied for:
Reforming Global Financial Institution
Reforming Global Financial Institutions: These countries want to increase their voting power at the IMF and World Bank to prioritize their economic needs. They have also proposed alternative financial structures to lessen their reliance on Western-led financial networks.
Strengthening Regional Trade Blocs
This would include the strengthening of regional trade blocs such as Brazil’s MERCOSUR, India’s role in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the efforts of nations in the Middle East to focus on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations as a trade bloc. These blocs promote economic cooperation and serve as a counterbalance to the trade remedies of the West.
Diversifying Energy Strategies
Pursuing a Just Energy Transition: India and Brazil are spearheading efforts on solar and biofuels, whereas Middle Eastern states are focusing on green hydrogen projects. The transformation to clean energy has also drawn emerging powers closer to developed countries in terms of economic partnerships.
Diplomatic And Security Strategies
Emerging powers and their foreign policy strategies must be considered better to connect regional conflicts to global struggles for power.
India’s Strategic Autonomy
India has remained neutral in major global conflicts, balancing its relations with the U.S., Russia, and China, while its mediating role in regional disputes. For the expansion of defense partnerships and space diplomacy initiatives, it only reinforces its status globally.
Brazil’s Role in Latin America
Brazil’s Role in Latin America Brazil has acted as a peacekeeping presence in South America, encouraging negotiations in Venezuela and bolstering democratic transitions. It has also advanced regional integration through economic and political coalitions.
Middle East Perks
The Middle Eastern regional reset was also irreversible. Diplomacy boomed between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and Turkey mediated the Russia-Ukraine war. These efforts are part of a broader strategy of cooling tensions and enhancing regional stability.
Influence in Multilateral Institutions
Emerging powers assert their global influence through engagement with multilateral institutions.
Reforming The UNSC
These nations have fostered economic and technological collaboration among developing countries through BRICS and other forums, reducing dependency on Western aid.
South-South Cooperation
They have also promoted economic and technological cooperation among developing countries, mainly through BRICS and other forums, which has decreased dependence on Western aid.
G20 Is Broadening Its Space
India and Brazil have lobbied for G20 discussions on global debt relief, food security, and climate resilience, so that emerging economies can shape global policy-making.
Conclusion
India, Brazil, and the Middle East have shed their role as peripheral actors in global politics. Their increasing presence in international institutions like the BRICS, the G20, and the UN showcases their geopolitical design and financial prowess. As emerging powers reshape global governance through trade, diplomacy, and multilateral cooperation, they transform the world into a multipolar order. Despite being the early frontrunners in shaping the new world order, their success in rebuilding international frameworks and exerting soft power will depend on overcoming underlying economic, political, and institutional obstacles.
Leave a Reply