The World Trade Organization and the Global South: Balancing Economic Diplomacy and Structural Dependency

Abstract

The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established to provide a multilateral framework for trade and development; however, its record in the Global South remains contested. This study explores how the WTO has shaped development outcomes in Africa and other regions, with particular focus on the dual dynamics of structural dependency and economic diplomacy. A scoping review approach was employed to synthesize peer-reviewed literature, policy reports, and case evidence, allowing for the identification of recurring patterns and theoretical debates. The findings reveal that WTO rules on tariff escalation, subsidies, and Special and Differential Treatment have restricted the policy space of developing economies, reinforcing dependence on primary exports and weakening industrialization efforts. Nigeria’s experience shows how premature liberalization contributed to deindustrialization and increased vulnerability to external shocks, while South Africa’s integration after apartheid demonstrates that membership can support export growth and global reinsertion despite persistent inequality and unemployment. Instances of coalition building, such as the Group of Twenty initiative at Cancún, illustrate how developing countries have used the WTO as a platform for collective bargaining and diplomatic agency. The study concludes that the WTO occupies a paradoxical position between structural dependency and economic diplomacy. Although its rules often reinforce global inequalities, it remains one of the few multilateral institutions through which the Global South can contest asymmetries and advocate for reform. The policy relevance of these findings lies in the need to rebalance subsidy rules, strengthen Special and Differential Treatment, and expand the participation and decision-making power of least developed countries in global trade governance.