A Cry for Inclusivity
At the BRICS summit on July 6 in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a stirring message: two-thirds of the world’s population remains unrepresented in key global institutions established in the 20th century. He urged leaders to reimagine the United Nations Security Council, the World Trade Organization, the IMF, and other bodies so that they reflect today’s geopolitical and economic realities.
“Typewriters Can’t Run Modern Software”
Modi used powerful analogies to drive his point home: outdated institutions are like “20th-century typewriters” trying to run “21st-century software.” He claimed that without genuine representation, global governance lacks credibility and fails to tackle modern challenges ranging from AI and cybersecurity to pandemics and conflicts.
Double Standards and Token Gestures
Highlighting systemic inequality, Modi said countries of the Global South often receive token gestures only on issues like climate finance, sustainable development, and technology transfer, even as they shoulder significant economic contributions. These “double standards” undermine fairness and relevance in global decision-making.
Global South as Identity, Not Afterthought
Modi painted a vivid picture: leaving out the Global South is like having a mobile phone with a SIM card but no network. He insisted that reform isn’t just symbolic, it’s essential for functional, inclusive governance. He urged BRICS to champion such reform and lead by example as a multipolar grouping.
BRICS’ Adaptive Potential
Pointing to BRICS’s own evolution, expanding from five to eleven members, Modi held the bloc up as a model of adaptability. He challenged the group to use this momentum to push for real reform in the UNSC, WTO, and multilateral development banks, showing that inclusivity can be both symbolic and effective.
Terror and Double Standards
Modi went further, asserting that even in matters like counter-terrorism, double standards persist. He called on BRICS to unite and take a firm stand, vowing sanctions against any country offering direct or indirect support to terrorism.
BRICS as a Global Catalyst
In a session titled “Peace, Security and Reform of Global Governance,” Modi emphasized that BRICS must not just talk reform, but “reflect credibility” through internal improvements, which include better decision-making in shared initiatives like the BRICS New Development Bank.
A World in Flux Demands Reform
With major challenges afoot, geopolitical tensions, climate emergencies, economic unpredictability, Modi stressed that yesterday’s institutions can’t serve today’s needs. He warned that a failure to reform endangers both the legitimacy and the effectiveness of global governance.
Unity in Diversity
Modi pitched BRICS’ diverse membership as its strength, encouraging the bloc to showcase unity and multipolar leadership. He also pointed out successful BRICS efforts like the agricultural research platform and urged deployments of shared innovation to Rural and Global South beneficiaries.
What Lies Ahead
As India prepares to assume the BRICS chair next year, Modi signalled a commitment to driving global-south-led governance reform. The agenda is clear: push for seat reshuffling, voting rights, quota reforms, and leadership positions that better reflect contemporary contributions to the world economy.
Tectonic Shift or Empty Words?
Modi’s powerful rhetoric challenges global institutions to evolve, or risk becoming obsolete. With BRICS spotlighting systemic inequity, the question is whether these words translate into hard policy shifts. The next year, under India’s leadership, may prove pivotal in the journey from rhetoric to reform.
This speech marks a bold call to global reset, tapping into a growing demand for a truly multipolar world order reflective of modern economic and geopolitical realities.
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