The G20 Presidency was handed over to South Africa  on 1 December 2024, a historic day that highlights the growing influence of emerging developing nations on the global stage. For the first time, South Africa is hosting global leaders under the G20 summit, providing an opportunity and platform to shape responses on digital infrastructure, global governance, climate and energy transition, with the Global South being at the core of the discussion. Illustration by The Geostrat

The international system was built on the implicit assumption of normalcy for many years. Stable times were thought to be the default state of world affairs, interspersed with sporadic crises that upset the status quo but were eventually resolved, such as wars, economic downturns, and pandemics. Institutions, models of governance, and diplomatic expectations were all influenced by this worldview. That presumption is no longer valid today. Illustration by The Geostrata Instead