The global repositioning of the many foreign relationships in the geopolitical chaos has brought to the fore the question of what truly characterizes a border and what construes a boundary.
Can a country’s boundary exclusively be defined by a spatial dimension in the form of a border line? Can the border line be the only criteria to limit and/or delimit a country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity? Can the border line be deployed as the only prerequisite variable to define the broader socio-economic-political interactions between nations?
Given the lopsidedness of global power and politics, physically demarcated borders have increasingly become an essential ingredient in determining the nature and extent of economic interactions between nations. For example, the momentum in the broader bilateral ties between India and China appear to have picked up pace in the positive after the border tensions between the two Asian giants had received their due attention and course of action.
However, nations, particularly the global south, are also beginning to define their boundaries which go beyond the geographical realm. For example, at the Lima meeting between China’s President Xi Jinping and America’s President Joe Biden on Nov. 16, 2024, China resolutely laid out its non-negotiable boundary in the four red lines and paramount principles. Arguably, the boundary is laid out in the US-China context. Nevertheless, China in more words than one has asserted to the larger world its boundaries in the true essence, the foundation to any form of relationship with China.
Global South nations are coming together in drawing boundaries at multilateral forums too. For example, at the COP29 meeting in Baku, India on the global stage vehemently opposed not only the mannerism in which the climate finance deal was adopted but also the tenets and technicalities of the deal. India’s opposition was met with support from various global south nations including Nigeria, Bolivia, Mali, Panama, Cuba, amongst others. A feeling of being sidelined and compelled to accept the unacceptable yet again, COP29 witnessed the coming together of the Global South nations in drawing a united boundary.
As the events unfold in the global political arena, it is becoming increasingly evident that the global south nations, through the act of defining their boundaries, independently or collectively, are beginning to assert their self-identity. Especially because of their need to assert and safeguard its strategic autonomy while chalking out their economic growth and developmental trajectories. Finding strength in their individualistic identity, the empowerment of one empowers the all. And unified voices of the global south nations are amplifying reasons. Thus, lending credence to the much-needed and oft-repeated Chinese metaphorical mathematical expression 1+1>2 indicative of strength in collective efforts.
Nevertheless, for the optimization of the boundaries, the imperative question for the global south nation remains – how can global south nations collectively capitalize on their individualistic economic strength for driving high-quality economic and developmental convergences? Where nations work in tandem with each other’s boundaries, and an alternative growth and developmental model fulcrums around a thought of thinking together – to pool and provide resources to build economic resilience for self-preservation. Afterall, stretching of economic boundaries without having economic resilience can be detrimental to economic growth and development.
To this end, global south nations can look towards facilitating people-to-people exchanges and partnerships across various verticals and at different levels. Such exchanges can ignite the iterative process of rebuilding mutual learnings and trust amongst the nations.
Transcending borders and boundaries, education is an economic currency to optimize upon. We learn that at the ground level, the Global South nations are already taking cognisance of each other’s presence in seeking collaborations between educational institutes of the Global South nations. A classic example where fluidity in boundaries is being explored to bring a togetherness, a want to build and a want to grow. However, conceived notions of language as a barrier in the times of technology and a missing uniform academic credit transferring system are deterring successful academic partnerships. To overcome such barriers, various types of exchange programs can be explored in the educational and academic space. This could include, teachers and students exchange programmes, academia-industry collaborations leading to internship programmes, vocational education and training programs, visiting scholars programs, research collaborations, and encouragement of conducting workshops, seminars and conferences, etc. In addition, a legit credit scoring and transferring structure amongst academic institutions of the global south nations can be created. This would encourage both institutions and students to actively create and participate in dual or joint degree programs. The world sees an unbiased world – as the world grows.
To conclude, boundaries, in essence, are those invisible borders that nations, individually or collectively, are beginning to sketch as a line beyond borders. Understandably boundaries need to be fluid, responding to the evolving needs and wants of nations. Yet, boundaries need to be firm in its fluidity ensuring self-preservation and growth. Characterized by non-negotiable elements, when boundaries are transgressed, relationships regress and are then identified through newer equilibriums. Therefore, it is imperative to define boundaries – for mutual recognition and mutual respect. This not only fosters individuality in the togetherness but also facilitates an environment of mutual trust thereby setting the tone for mutually beneficial international development cooperation. Ultimately, healthy boundaries are the cornerstone of a healthy relationship thereby enabling the process of pooling resources for a shared prosperous future.
[Photo by Arupparia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
Dr. Natasha Agarwal and Paresh Batra are researchers at The Global South Convergence Forum. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors.
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