The political landscape of the world is changing dramatically. The traditional dominance of Western democracies in determining international affairs is coming under threat as the globe enters the “Roaring Twenties” of the twenty-first century, which has been characterised by the COVID-19 epidemic, the war in Ukraine, and the fighting in Gaza. Global South emerging countries like Brazil, India, and South Africa are making their voices heard, demanding a place at the table, and seeking changes to the Liberal International Order (LIO). Urgent questions are brought up by this multipolar reality: What does democracy imply in a world where power is no longer centralised in the hands of a select few? And in the face of increasing geopolitical fragmentation, how can democratic values flourish?

Democracy Beyond the West: Rethinking Power, Rights, and Global Order

Traditional definitions of democracy rooted in Western institutions, elections, and individual rights are being challenged as the world grows more multipolar. A deeper, more expansive vision is emerging, one that prioritises:

1. People over process – Democracy isn’t just about formal institutions; it’s about whether citizens experience fairness, dignity, and agency in their daily lives.
2. Norms over laws – Binding treaties and legal frameworks matter, but so do informal practices, cultural values, and shared global principles.
3. Borders as bridges, not barriers – Climate change, pandemics, and inequality don’t stop at national lines. Democratic governance must operate across them, not just within them.
4. Who builds the system, not just who runs it – true democracy requires that the rules of global order themselves are shaped inclusively, not imposed by a privileged few.

This broader understanding resonates in the Global South, where democracy often takes forms that Western models struggle to recognise, being less fixated on individualism and more attuned to communal rights, historical justice, and collective well-being. But this raises a fundamental question: must global democracy be liberal? For decades, the West has treated its model of competitive elections, free markets, and individual freedoms as the only legitimate path. Yet alternative visions, like Ubuntu’s emphasis on shared humanity or Confucianism’s focus on social harmony, reject this universalist claim.
The tension is clear: can international institutions promote democratic values without imposing Western ones? Or will the world fracture into rival blocs, each claiming democratic legitimacy while denying it to others? The answer may determine whether 21st-century democracy becomes a unifying force or another battleground in an age of division.

The Global South Demands a Seat at the Table

For years, Western-led institutions like the UN and the IMF set the agenda. But emerging powers are no longer willing to play by old rules. According to Dawisson Belém-Lopes (Federal University of Minas Gerais), traditional theories of international relations have ignored the agency of middle power countries that are now asserting themselves through groups like BRICS+. This shift is not merely about power; it’s about representation.

The Global South is challenging the “social and diplomatic barriers” embedded in the LIO, which have historically restricted the rise of revisionist middle powers. The question now is whether the international system can accommodate these voices without descending into chaos.
Daniele Archibugi of Birkbeck College, University of London, offers a framework for rethinking democracy in this fragmented world. He distinguishes between the “internal lever” (how democratic nations foster global cooperation) and the “external lever” (how international institutions can promote democracy within states). For Archibugi, the key lies in strengthening intergovernmental organisations (IOs) to make them more transparent, accountable, and inclusive.
Yet, as Archibugi acknowledges, recent events have undermined this vision. The failures of Western-led interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq, coupled with the divisive policies of leaders like Donald Trump, have eroded trust in democratic solidarity.

The stakes could not be higher. IJR’s Head of Peacebuilding Interventions, Prof. Tim Murithi, observed during the conference that the world is at a crossroads. He emphasised that Pan-Africanism, with its vision of collective self-determination, solidarity, and equitable representation, offers a critical lens through which to reimagine global democracy. The rise of emerging powers, including African nations advocating for multilateral reform, presents an opportunity to create a more inclusive and equitable international system, but only if democracies, old and new, can find common ground.
This will require humility from the West, creativity from the Global South, and a willingness to redefine democracy for the 21st century. The alternative, a world divided into competing blocs, each claiming democratic legitimacy while denying it to others, is a recipe for perpetual conflict. The “Roaring Twenties” may be tumultuous, but they also offer a chance to rebuild global democracy on firmer, fairer foundations. The question is whether we’re up to the task.

By Nande Mbekela