Since the end of WWII, the countries of the Global South have steadily strengthened as a collective. Through sustained solidarity and cooperation on the international stage, they have become a significant force shaping the evolution of the global landscape. This trajectory can be broadly divided into the following stages.

Formation

The period from the end of WWII to the mid-1960s marked the formative stage of the Global South as a political and strategic bloc. Before 1945, only a little over 60 countries existed worldwide, and many peoples across Asia, Africa, and Latin America remained under the colonial rule of Western powers. The spread of nationalist and socialist ideas, coupled with the weakening of traditional imperial powers in the aftermath of the war, fueled national liberation movements and socialist revolutions, producing a surge of newly independent states across these regions.

Notably, 1960 alone witnessed 17 African nations gain independence, leading it to be dubbed the “Year of Africa.” The sharp rise in the number of Global South countries fundamentally altered the postwar landscape, breaking the Western monopoly over international affairs. Though individually weak, these new states, when acting collectively, became a force on the world stage that could no longer be ignored.

A defining moment of their early solidarity was the Asian-African Conference, also known as the Bandung Conference, held in Indonesia from April 18–24, 1955, gathering 29 delegations. This was the first large international gathering of Asian and African countries convened without participation from colonial powers. Delegates focused on issues of common concern, including safeguarding peace, winning national independence, and developing national economies. The founding of the PRC—a major new socialist state—substantially strengthened the Global South bloc in this early phase.

Emergence

The period from the 1960s to the late 1980s marked the emergence of Global South countries as visible actors on the international stage. On one hand, they demonstrated solidarity and self-reliance, leveraging their numerical advantage to advocate for a new international political and economic order, exerting meaningful influence on the global governance structure of the time.

For instance, through sustained efforts by Global South countries, the UN Charter was amended, and membership of the UN Security Council was expanded. More Global South nations gained entry into the UN Security Council and were able to voice their positions. When united, they could even block draft resolutions supported by major powers. Although this influence was most evident in international organizations governed by the “one country, one vote” principle, their majority status meant that a handful of powerful states could no longer dominate the UN as before.

At the same time, the relatively limited individual capacity of Global South countries continued to constrain their practical influence. Nonetheless they intensified their collective initiatives, with China playing an active role by assisting other developing nations and proposing new norms for foreign aid. From December 1963 to February 1964, then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai visited 10 African countries. Upholding the spirit of the Bandung Conference and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, he announced China’s Eight Principles for Economic Aid and Technical Assistance to Other Countries, which emphasized equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, and assistance without imposing political conditions. This period marked the Global South’s initial ascent, exerting substantive influence on the world landscape and the prevailing international order.

Continued rise

The period from the end of the Cold War to 2012 represents the third stage of the Global South’s rise, with China’s rapid economic development generating the most significant global impact. When China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, its economy was roughly 10% the size of that of the United States. By 2010, China’s economic output had reached half that of the US, surpassing Japan to become the world’s second-largest economy.

Meanwhile, other emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa—also experienced robust growth and, together with China, came to be known as the BRICS nations. The conceptualization and institutionalization of BRICS created a relatively effective leadership mechanism for the Global South.

As the strength of Global South countries continued to grow, the broader shift featuring the rise of the East became increasingly visible. This was fully reflected in the establishment of the G20 mechanism after the 2008 global financial crisis. The transition from the G7 to the G20 demonstrated that major representatives of the Global South could participate alongside Western developed countries in deliberating and deciding global issues.

The period from 2013 to the present marks the fourth stage of the Global South’s rise—an ongoing chapter in the evolution of the new global landscape. In the medium to long term, multipolarity is the prevailing trajectory, with the United States, China, Russia, Japan, India, and the European Union among the potential poles. China is moving ever closer to the center of the world stage and providing more international public goods to support the development of Global South countries. The Belt and Road Initiative has become a major institutional platform for economic cooperation among Global South nations, and South-South Cooperation is flourishing.

However, the rise of the Global South is not without challenges. Many are economic: In an era of rising trade protectionism and unfavorable external conditions, Global South countries must find ways to sustain steady economic growth and social stability. Others are strategic: The Global South must maintain unity, set aside differences, and articulate a shared voice in global governance. In this process, China’s stability and development serve as both anchor and ballast for the continued rise of the Global South.

Song Wei is a professor from the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China.