Can the G20 bridge a multipolar world or is it just a global stage?

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The G20 was born from financial crisis, but today it serves a dual purpose: a forum for economic cooperation and a high-stakes theater for host nations. As Brazil takes the lead, the group faces a critical test: can it maintain consensus in an increasingly fractured, multipolar international order?

Originally formed in response to the 1997-1999 East Asian debt crises, the G20 was designed to include systemically significant economies beyond the G7. By incorporating eleven developing nations alongside eight developed ones, the group sought to move away from the post-Second World War model where donor preferences dictated global agendas. Initially meeting at the finance minister level, the forum was upgraded to a leaders’ summit in 2008 to address the North Atlantic financial crisis, effectively becoming the steering committee for the world economy.

The modern G20 has evolved into a platform for host countries to project influence, a phenomenon highlighted by the recent 'Southernisation' of the group. With the Troika—the past, present, and future presidencies—now consisting entirely of Global South nations like Indonesia, India, Brazil, and South Africa, developing countries are increasingly setting the discussion agenda. This shift represents a departure from the group's origins, where Global North states typically dominated the leadership rotation.

Despite this, the G20 remains an informal body. Its decisions lack the formal authority of multilateral organizations, relying instead on 'gardening'—the trust built through ongoing dialogue among sherpas and working groups. While this process aims to prevent breakdowns during periods of rising power tensions, it faces skepticism. Critics point out that the proliferation of engagement groups, such as those for business, youth, and science, still largely excludes the populations of roughly 170 states not represented in the G20, raising persistent questions about the group's true representational legitimacy.

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