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The New “Washington Dissensus” & the Uncertain Future of Global Economic Leadership

By Lukas Fiala With markets reeling from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff bazooka, economists around the world are seemingly waking up to the new reality of the "Washington Dissensus." America rejects the very idea of the world it has created, its ...

Why China Won’t Replace Western Aid

Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, told reporters on Wednesday that the Trump administration’s sudden withdrawal of U.S. foreign assistance will endanger about 300 million people. The collapse of U.S. foreign assistance (and cuts announced in Europe) raised questions about whether China will fill the ...

China Emphasizes Global South Connections at G20 Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced several initiatives at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro aimed at boosting development across the Global South. In his remarks, Xi announced eight measures aimed at strengthening global development:

Roundtable: What the China-Africa Forum Means for Clean Energy in Africa

By Tom Baxter Over 50 African heads of state gathered in Beijing on 4-6 September for the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). As per tradition, the triennial meeting concluded with an action plan and a declaration.

A Glimmer of Hope in the Middle of a Dark Tunnel

By Lukas Fiala As someone working on international affairs in today’s world, it’s rare to end the week on an optimistic note. Yet, sometimes even the darkest of times offer a glimpse of hope. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s return to in-person ...

Analysis from Cobus van Staden

BRICS Announces Numerous New Initiatives

The BRICS group wrapped up its two-day leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. The summit’s final communique is a 16,000-word doorstop that covers numerous issues from economics to education.
The communique avoids any direct mention of the United States, and references to “unilateralism” and other coded criticism are also relatively scarce. Rather, the communique keeps the focus on the BRICS’ vision of the strengthening and reform of the global multilateral system ...

African Leaders, China Made It Clear This Week They’re Unhappy With the Current International System

African leaders one after another took the podium at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) this week to express their deep frustrations with the international system and how unfairly it treats developing countries. "It is time for a fairer, more inclusive global ...

How Will the Debt Crisis Affect China’s Image as a Development Partner?

By Lukas Fiala As the debt crisis across the Global South accelerates, many commentators are weighing in on the drivers and implications of repayment difficulties and defaults. Unsurprisingly, as a major bilateral creditor to many governments across the developing world, China is ...

The Discourse Power of “One China” and the Global South

By Hugo Jones Leaders, diplomats, and political parties from countries across Africa and the Global South have criticized Nancy Pelosi’s recent trip to Taiwan and reaffirmed their commitment to (China’s interpretation of) the One-China principle. As Cobus van Staden noted last ...

Week in Review: Sanctions, Supply Chains & Security

Three robbery-hijackings in a week have put South Africa's Chinese community on edge. The latest incident occurred last week in the Humewood area of Port Elizabeth where like the previous two incidents an ethnic Chinese driver was forced off the road and robbed at gunpoint. The assailants also ...