The G20 emblem on the launch of South Africa’s G20 Presidency at Imbizo Media Centre on 3 December 2024 in Cape City. The G20 is a discussion board of the biggest economies on the planet who meet usually to debate essentially the most urgent points dealing with the worldwide financial system. (Picture by Brenton Geach/Gallo Photographs through Getty Photographs)
Because the G20 summit unfolds, South Africa has assumed a pivotal position on the worldwide stage. Internet hosting the summit for the primary time on African soil, South Africa’s management affords a big alternative to deal with the pursuits of the International South. However this place additionally brings challenges, particularly amid present geopolitical tensions.
A notable concern is the USA’ strategy to South Africa’s internet hosting duties. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio selected to not attend the current G20 Overseas Ministers’ assembly in Johannesburg, reportedly due to coverage disagreements with South Africa. As a substitute, the US was represented by Dana Brown, the performing ambassador to South Africa. Moreover, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent introduced he wouldn’t attend the G20 Finance Ministers’ assembly in Cape City, citing home obligations.
This raises the query: does the US see South Africa as a mere host relatively than an influential participant? Extra importantly, does this selective engagement reveal that international decision-making stays firmly within the arms of some elite nations, with others merely collaborating in a fastidiously managed system?
Italian thinker Antonio Gramsci’s idea of hegemony helps us perceive this dynamic. Hegemony isn’t nearly army or financial would possibly — it’s about shaping concepts, narratives and international norms in a manner that advantages essentially the most highly effective. The G20 is usually framed as an area the place rising economies can have interaction with established powers on equal footing. But, when Western nations select when and the way to have interaction, their selective participation sends a transparent message about who actually holds energy.
The obtrusive neglect of African crises in international governance discussions provides to this concern. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as an illustration, stays embroiled in battle, but its struggles barely register in G20 agendas. Whereas together with the African Union within the G20 is hailed as progress, is it really significant or only a symbolic gesture? The financial and political challenges dealing with many African nations — starting from instability within the Sahel to governance crises in East Africa — proceed to be sidelined in favour of points deemed extra strategically vital to international powers.
In the meantime, the US and Russia’s discussions in Saudi Arabia on Ukraine, a battle that, whereas undoubtedly important, has overshadowed different humanitarian crises, significantly in Africa. Why is it that conflicts in Europe command swift and sustained diplomatic consideration whereas the struggling in locations just like the DRC is met with silence? The reply lies within the pursuits of worldwide elites who form the priorities of worldwide governance.
Gramsci’s thought of a “passive revolution” — the place dominant powers make restricted concessions to keep up management — appears significantly related. The AU’s seat on the G20 desk might look like a victory, however with out actual affect, it stays a managed shift relatively than a transformative one. African nations nonetheless await significant involvement in choices that have an effect on their future.
South Africa’s internet hosting of the G20 needs to be a possibility to problem these international hierarchies. However the reluctance of Western powers to totally have interaction means that true decision-making energy stays out of attain for a lot of within the International South. If the G20 is to be greater than a symbolic gathering, it should confront the deep-rooted inequalities that proceed to outline international governance. It should transcend empty inclusivity and really tackle the wants of marginalised nations, from the DRC to the broader African continent. In any other case, it dangers remaining yet one more platform the place the highly effective dictate phrases whereas the remainder of the world listens.
Past the speedy questions of illustration, the G20 summit additionally highlights the bigger structural inequalities in international governance. Traditionally, boards such because the United Nations, the World Financial institution and the Worldwide Financial Fund have been dominated by Western nations, with creating nations having little say in decision-making processes.
Contemplate the difficulty of worldwide financial coverage. Choices made on the G20 straight have an effect on creating economies, significantly in Africa, the place monetary dependencies on Western establishments stay robust. When Western leaders prioritise financial discussions over diplomatic ones, they reinforce a system the place monetary management is maintained with out significant discussions on broader political and social points. The prioritisation of finance over diplomacy suggests a continued neoliberal agenda specializing in market-driven options relatively than addressing deep-seated inequalities in governance, commerce and growth.
On the identical time, the neglect of African points in these discussions highlights the position of elites in shaping international narratives. Whereas conflicts in Ukraine and the Center East obtain intensive media protection and diplomatic intervention, ongoing African crises are sometimes dismissed as “native” issues relatively than international issues. This neglect just isn’t unintended — it displays a broader ideological positioning the place African points are deemed secondary to the pursuits of Western powers.
For instance, the failure to deal with the battle within the DRC is emblematic of this marginalisation. Regardless of its huge mineral wealth, which is important to international provide chains for electronics and renewable vitality applied sciences, the DRC stays primarily excluded from significant diplomatic interventions. The dearth of worldwide consideration to the area’s crises reveals a hierarchy of worldwide concern that privileges sure areas whereas ignoring others.
This selectivity just isn’t a matter of oversight; it’s a deliberate technique guaranteeing the upkeep of worldwide energy constructions. By preserving African nations on the periphery of key discussions, international elites reinforce a system the place decision-making stays concentrated within the arms of some. Whereas symbolically important, the AU’s inclusion within the G20 does little to problem this entrenched hierarchy except it’s accompanied by actual decision-making energy.
What will be performed to problem this established order? First, South Africa, as a number nation, should push for substantive discussions that transcend surface-level inclusion. It should demand that African points be given equal weight to these of Western powers. Second, African nations should unite in advocating for reforms in international governance constructions, guaranteeing that their voices aren’t merely tokenistic however genuinely influential.
Lastly, there have to be a broader reckoning with the position of elites in shaping international coverage. Gramsci’s evaluation reminds us that hegemony just isn’t maintained solely by power however by the management of concepts and narratives. Difficult this dominance requires institutional reforms and a shift in framing and addressing international points. Till African nations are handled as equal gamers relatively than passive members, boards just like the G20 will stay areas of managed participation relatively than real collaboration.
Because the G20 course of unfolds, the world should ask itself: will this be one other gathering the place international powers reinforce their dominance, or will it mark a turning level in how worldwide governance is structured? The reply is whether or not rising economies, significantly in Africa, can break away from the cycle of passive revolution and assert their rightful place in shaping the worldwide future.
Thabo Motshweni is a PhD candidate on the College of Johannesburg’s division of sociology and a analysis Intern on the Centre for Social Change and Centre for Sociological Analysis and Observe.