During a panel on the relationship between geopolitics, political space, and development, several experts analyzed the changes in the international system and their implications for developing economies. According to Alexia Latortue, head of the secretariat of the Future of Development Cooperation Coalition, the world is going through a decisive moment. She describes this period as “difficult,” marked by frustrations and sometimes even despair, but also as an opportunity to rethink development models.
Latortue emphasizes that economic growth remains a central factor in progress: “what matters for any country that wants to advance is economic growth.” Economic growth is essential for creating opportunities, improving living conditions, and addressing global challenges, especially environmental ones. However, Latortue stresses the need for quality growth capable of generating deep and lasting structural transformations.
Former President of the Open Society Foundations, Mark Malloch-Brown, offers a broader analysis of current geopolitical transformations. According to him, the world is going through a period of deep fragmentation of the international system. He uses the fable of the “elephant and the blind men” to illustrate this situation, where each observer perceives only a part of reality without understanding the whole.
This metaphor reflects, according to him, the complexity of the current global order, marked by the emergence of new powers and the redefinition of the roles of traditional actors. Malloch-Brown also points out that the multilateral institutions created after World War II struggle to adapt to the transformations of the 21st century.
Power balances have shifted, but the governance of international institutions does not always reflect these changes. This situation contributes to weakening the effectiveness of the multilateral system and exacerbating tensions between different regions of the world.
The financing of development in crisis
One of the most troubling aspects of this transformation concerns the future of development finance. Official development assistance, which has long been a central instrument of international cooperation, is currently facing a significant decline. While some attribute this evolution to recent political decisions, Malloch-Brown believes it results from a more structural trend. Indeed, aid budgets are increasingly contested in donor countries and often become variables of adjustment in the face of budgetary constraints or strategic priorities.
This evolution also highlights the limitations of the traditional model of international aid. In many countries in the Global South, aid is perceived as fragmented, invisible, and often guided by donor priorities rather than those of the recipient countries.
To address these criticisms, Malloch-Brown believes that a profound reform of the system is necessary. Countries should be placed at the center of development strategies, with international funding supporting their national priorities rather than imposing them.
In this context of transformation of international finance, the private sector is expected to play an increasingly important role. Private investments could contribute to financing infrastructure, energy transition, or technological innovations.
However, Malloch-Brown warns against the risks of geopolitical instrumentalization of investments. In some cases, international finance may be conditioned by strategic interests, particularly access to natural resources. Such a scenario would resemble practices from past decades when international aid was closely linked to the national interests of donor countries.
Africa facing the mutations of the world order
Adeyemi Dipeolu, former special adviser for economic affairs in the Nigerian vice presidency, brings an African perspective to this debate. According to him, the liberal international order established after 1945 has contributed to significant progress in many areas, including poverty reduction, improved health systems, and expanded education.
However, this order is currently undergoing profound transformation. Dipeolu observes a rise in trade tensions, increased use of economic sanctions, and a gradual weakening of multilateral institutions. Globalization, which has long favored economic integration, is gradually being replaced by a form of strategic rivalry in which economic interdependencies are used as instruments of power.
Faced with these challenges, Dipeolu believes that the priority for African countries is the structural transformation of their economies. This should create jobs, increase the value of natural resources, and sustainably improve the standard of living for populations. Industrial policies, technological innovation, and economic diversification play a central role in this strategy.
However, he emphasizes that there is no universal development model. Historical experiences show that each country must adapt its economic policies to its own realities. As economist Robert Solow summarized, “a list of ingredients does not make a dish,” reminding that development policies cannot be mechanically applied from one context to another.
To succeed in this transformation, the capacity of the state plays a crucial role. Governments must be able to coordinate public policies, support productive investment, and maintain a long-term strategic vision. Dipeolu also stresses the need to build national coalitions in favor of development, bringing together the public sector, the private sector, and civil society.
In a world marked by uncertainty and rapid transformations, Southern countries must strengthen their ability to define their own development trajectories. While the international order is going through a transition phase, this period could also offer an opportunity to rethink economic models and build more inclusive and sustainable growth strategies.
