Mains Practice Questions

Approach:

• Introduce your answer by writing briefly about G 20 and Africa’s inclusion in it.
• What will be the impacts in the G 20 and Africa due to the inclusion of Africa in G 20?
• Conclude suitably.

Introduction

The G20 is a forum for global economic and financial cooperation among 19 countries and the European Union. It accounts for about 80% of global GDP, 75% of global trade, and 60% of global population. Recently, at the 2023 G20 summit in Delhi, invited the African Union (AU), an intergovernmental organisation of 55 member states of the African continent, to take a seat at the table as a permanent member. This move has implications for both Africa and the world in terms of development and concerns.

Body

For Africa, joining the G20 can bring several benefits, such as:

• It can give Africa a voice and visibility on global issues that affect its interests, such as trade, debt relief, climate change, health, security, migration, etc.
• It can enhance Africa’s integration into the global economy by facilitating access to markets, investments, technology, infrastructure, etc.
• It can foster regional cooperation and solidarity among African countries by promoting a common agenda and position on global matters.
• It can enable Africa to learn from the best practices and experiences of other G20 members in addressing developmental challenges and achieving sustainable development goals.

However, joining the G20 also poses some challenges and concerns for Africa, such as:

• It can increase Africa’s responsibility and accountability to contribute to global public goods and comply with international norms and standards.
• It can expose Africa to external pressures and influences that may not align with its priorities and values.
• It can create internal divisions and conflicts among African countries due to divergent interests and perspectives on global issues.

For the world, having Africa in the G20 can also have several impacts, such as:

• It can enrich the diversity and legitimacy of the G20 by representing the views and aspirations of the poorest and most climate-vulnerable region of the globe.
• It can foster mutual understanding and cooperation between the G20 and Africa on common challenges and opportunities, such as combating poverty, inequality, terrorism, pandemics, etc.
• It can support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change by mobilising resources and actions from both developed and developing countries.

Conclusion

Therefore, it can be concluded that Africa’s joining the G20 is a historic and significant development that has both opportunities and challenges for both Africa and the world. It requires a balanced and constructive approach from all stakeholders to maximise the benefits and minimise the costs of this new partnership.