South–South Development Co-operation and Venues For North–South Co-operation

This article explores the economic dimension of South–South co-operation and

North–South dialogue – that is, co-operation and dialogue in the field of development.

After introducing the significance of the issue, the study first explores South–South

co-operation at bilateral, regional, and global levels. Second, the study examines

North–South dialogue within the framework of the New International Economic

Order (NIEO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD),

and the Group of 77 (G-77). As the main research question, the study addresses

why the South–South co-operation and the North–South dialogue failed to deliver

effective results until recently. The study concludes that the weakness of the South

vis-à-vis the strong North prepared the ground for the eventual paralysis of the

South–South co-operation and North–South dialogue starting with the 1980s.

With the strengthening of the Southern actors such as China and the weakening

of the Northern development ideology of the Washington Consensus, South–South

co-operation has gained momentum and the North has experienced difficulties

in repelling the new development discourses of the South, including the Beijing

Consensus of China.

Keywords: South–South Co-operation, North–South Dialogue, Development,

UNCTAD, NIEO, G-77