Fulcrums of Order: Rising States and the Struggle for the Future

As the center of gravity in global politics continues to shift, countries across the Global South are asserting their agency as a diverse set of actors seeking to maximize their leverage and advance their national interests through flexible alignments and pragmatic diplomacy.

The Global South’s growing influence is not inherently adversarial to U.S. interests, but Washington must avoid viewing its demands as a zero-sum game. China and Russia benefit from framing the Global South as a cohesive front committed to undermining the U.S.-led order. Many emerging powers are pursuing tailored strategies that balance sovereignty, economic development, and autonomy in global affairs. To remain competitive and credible, the United States must respond with more adaptive and creative forms of engagement, ones that acknowledge divergent values while identifying new pathways for cooperation.

This CSIS initiative, Fulcrums of Order: Rising States and the Struggle for the Future, unpacks the unique conditions, aspirations, and strategic cultures of key regional powers in the Global South. By analyzing these countries’ worldviews, their approaches to Great Power competition, and their visions for global order, this project will develop a more granular understanding of how the United States can recalibrate its global partnerships in the decades ahead.