Obstacles to Development in the Global Economic System
I. Obstacles to Development Arising from the International System
As the international community wades into the political discussions regarding the alternatives to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after 2015 and the design of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as mandated by the Rio+20 conference, it is timely to consider the question of whether development is a matter mostly of individual effort on the part of nation-states or whether there are elements in the international economic system that could serve as significant obstacles to national development efforts. (more…)
Waving Or Drowning: Developing Countries After The Financial Crisis
Not only has the “Great Recession” led to a “Great Slowdown” in developing countries, but also their longer-term growth prospects are clouded by global structural imbalances and fragilities that culminated in the current crisis. (more…)
The theory that developing countries have de-coupled from growth in advanced economies and can continue with high growth even during the global slowdown is not based on proper examination of facts. A South Centre paper challenges the concept of the inexorable rise of the South. This is a summary of the arguments.
Statement at UN High Level Conference on South-South Cooperation, Nairobi, Kenya
On behalf of the Chairman of the Board of the South Centre, H.E. former resident Benjamin W. Mkapa of the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Executive Director of the South Centre, the South Centre is pleased to articipate in this Conference, and congratulates you on the successful negotiation of the outcome document. (more…)
South-South Cooperation Principles: An Essential Element in South-South Cooperation.
Developing countries today face the multiple interlinked financial, climate, and development crises. As the development gap between rich and poor countries grows and inequality deepens, never before has South-South cooperation at all levels been more essential at all levels and in all fields of international and domestic endeavour as developing countries seek, individually and (more…)
Statement at UNTAD Trade and Development Board, Geneva
First, I would like to reattribute the UNCTAD for its 45 years anniversary on trade work. The UNCTAD has been playing very important roles in the past; the birth of the UNCAD was to make up the vacuum in the trading systems. (more…)
Developing country perspectives on the role of the Development Cooperation Forum: building strategic approaches to enhancing multilateral development cooperation.
This Analytical Note follows up the study on stakeholder perspectives on the Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) prepared by the South Centre entitled “Reshaping the International Development Cooperation Architecture: Perspectives on a Strategic Development Role for the Development Cooperation Forum” (more…)
Reshaping the international development cooperation architecture: perspectives on strategic development role for the Development Cooperation Forum.
This Analytical Note presents the findings of a research project undertaken by the South Centre designed to gather insights and perspectives from various stakeholders – including developing country governments and civil society. (more…)
Mercosur’s experience and progress towards true regional integration.
This South Centre Analytical Note provides a background and discussion on the history of the Mercado Común del Sur – Mercosur’s regional economic and political cooperation and the insights it can provide to developing countries seeking to build greater integration in their region. (more…)
Unity in Diversity: Governance Adaptation in Multilateral Trade Institutions Through South-South Coalition-Building.
The experience of developing countries, individually and collectively, during the more recent period of globalization has only confirmed that developing countries need to be consistent and united in promoting their views and interests, and that to succeed it is also essential for them to join forces and pursue group action in most domains on the development agenda. (more…)
Analysis of the role of the South-South Cooperation to promote governance on intellectual property rights and development.
The international regime on IP rights is currently made up of a patchwork of laws and institutions at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels with a growing number of players. The TRIPS Agreement of the WTO forms the core instrument with critical influence on the role of international actors and the scope of national policy making. TRIPS aim at reducing the North-South tension on IP rights protection through a multilateral system as one of its objectives. (more…)
The ASEAN Experience: Insights for Regional Political Cooperation.
This South Centre Analytical Note provides a background and discussion on the history of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional political cooperation and the insights it can provide to developing countries seeking to build greater integration in their region. (more…)
