The paper titled “Rewriting the Rules from the South: IBSA and Southern Institutional Agency in a Fragmented Climate Order” authored by Dr Vineeth Thomas and PhD Scholar Debolina Roy introduces the concept of Southern Institutional Agency (SIA) to explain how Global South coalitions influence procedures and norms within fragmented climate governance systems, despite structural and hierarchical constraints. Using the India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum as a case, it shows how such actors shape institutional outcomes through coalition-building, procedural interventions, and justice-oriented norms, with fragmentation creating opportunities rather than barriers.
Abstract:
This article proposes a new conceptual tool for analysing how Southern actors engage in procedural and normative interventions within fragmented global climate governance. Termed Southern institutional agency (SIA), it captures the capacity of Global South coalitions to shape institutional outcomes despite structural constraints and entrenched normative hierarchies. Drawing on the case of the India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum, the study argues that Southern agency manifests not only through rhetorical positioning or bloc politics but also via coalitional diplomacy, procedural rule-shaping and norm subsidiarity. Through a structured analysis of IBSA’s engagements with the Green Climate Fund and the IBSA Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger, the article illustrates how institutional design preferences and justice-orientated norms are gradually embedded into multilateral practices. The findings suggest that climate governance fragmentation, often portrayed as a liability, can open up spaces for procedural and normative interventions by Southern actors.
Explanation in Layperson’s Terms:
This article explains how developing countries like India, Brazil and South Africa influence global climate decisions despite having less power. It introduces a concept showing how they work together, shape rules and promote fairness. It argues that a fragmented global system actually gives these countries more opportunities to make their voices count.
Practical Implementation and Social Implication:
In practice, this means developing countries can work together to influence climate funding, policies and rules in ways that better reflect their needs. It can lead to fairer distribution of resources, stronger cooperation among Southern nations and more inclusive global decision-making, ultimately improving development outcomes and climate justice for vulnerable populations.
Future Research Plan:
Building on this study, future research will examine the sustainability of celebrity-led political movements, and their effects on institutional party systems in India, and comparative analyses of charismatic leadership, and populist appeal in South Asian democracies.
The Link to the Article: