India and China: Leaders of the Global South?

China and India increasingly present themselves as leading voices of the Global South—a loosely defined and politically contested term. Drawing on historical experience and narratives of solidarity, both seek to align with the interests of developing countries and expand engagement beyond traditional partnerships with Western actors, including Europe.

At the same time, leadership within the Global South is neither uniform nor automatic. Countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America engage with Chinese and Indian initiatives in diverse ways, shaped by their own priorities, regional contexts, and historical relationships. Understanding these varied responses is essential both for assessing leadership claims and for external actors aiming to engage the Global South in informed and context-sensitive ways.

This webinar aims to provide a space for exchange on how leadership in the Global South is articulated and received, and why this matters for global cooperation in an increasingly multipolar world.

The discussions will draw on the dossier India and China: Leaders of the Global South?, which brings together analyses from China and India alongside perspectives by experts from Chile, Indonesia, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Europe.

Guiding questions: 

• How do China and India articulate leadership claims in the Global South?
• How are these claims received across different regions?
• What does this mean for global cooperation and for Europe’s engagement strategies?

Speakers

Prof. Dr. Ummu Salma Bava — Professor of Diplomacy and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Prof. Dr. Zha Daojiong — Professor, Institute of International Studies, Peking University, Beijing

Dr. Cliff Mboya — Economist and Policy Analyst, Kenya

Dr. Dushni Weerakoon — Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, Colombo

Manisha Reuter — Deputy Programme Director, Asia Programme, European Council on Foreign Relations, Berlin

Contact:
Abhishek Chauhan
E abhishek.chauhan@in.boell.org

Language:
The presentations will be held in English.