Abstract
M.A.
This dissertation seeks to observe the Origins, Achievements and Challenges of South-South Cooperation. For this purpose, the study enquires into North-South cooperation from 1947 – 1994, and asks why the Global South calls for South-South cooperation when North-South cooperation channels have already been established in the international economic regime. Thus, the study undertakes an international regime analysis, with a particular focus on a case study of General Agreement for Trade and Tariffs (GATT) as a mechanism that enforces the international economic regime.
The study finds that it is possible to perform an international regime analysis on the GATT system, from 1947 to 1994, which is informed by the international economic regime. It is possible to point out that the issue area of the international economic regime, from 1947 to 1994, is vested in providing a stable international political economy. Moreover, the principles and norms are based on a liberal economic order that promotes: equality, international reciprocity, growth and economic development through trade liberalisation. This is further supported through the rules and decision-making procedures of GATT; whereby the rules are codified in the General Agreement and supporting schedules and the decision-making procedures are based on multilateral and bilateral consensus and negotiation.
The study found that in the context of North-South cooperation, GATT in particular, the Global South expresses its political weakness and vulnerability to the Global North and the international economic regime. This perspective informs the behaviour of the Global South, which is reflected in the discourse of numerous international platforms such as Bandung, NAM, UNGA, GATT, UNCTAD and G77, to name a few. This perspective places emphasis on the solidarity of the Global South and cooperation amongst each other to achieve self-reliance and self-sufficiency, which has been linked to the initial impetus and evolution of South-South cooperation. The study also found that South-South cooperation thus manifests through solidarity and multilateral platforms. Finally, the study was able to discern that South-South cooperation has maintained relevance in the North-South discussions; however, it faces a significant challenge in how it defines itself.