- Convenor:
-
Bernadette Louise Halili
(University of the Basque Country)
Send message to Convenor
- Format:
- Experimental format
- Stream:
- Shifting geopolitics and development futures
Short Abstract
We explore shifting geopolitics and multipolarity, inviting IPE and development papers on how new alliances reshape aid, diplomacy, and sovereignty. In an experimental format, participants will discuss peers’ work to foster collaboration and reimagine development from Global South perspectives.
Description
The proposed YSI panel will take an experimental format given that the main objective is to establish theoretical nexus, empirical extensions, and concrete opportunities for interdisciplinary work in international political economy and development. We will welcome papers highlighting the shifting terrain of global geopolitics and the emergence of a multipolar world order, focusing on how evolving alliances and economic realignments are reshaping aid, diplomacy, and state sovereignty. As traditional hegemonies wane and new powers rise, global governance, development agendas, and international political economy are undergoing profound transformation. We invite papers that critically engage with these dynamics, especially those examining the implications for Global South actors, alternative models of development, and contested norms of international engagement, contextualised within the conference theme of reimagining development. In continuing with the format from our panel at DSA2025, each participant will not present their own submission but will instead be in charge of discussing a paper submitted by another Young Scholar. Their discussion must focus on how their own research benefits from and informs the work that has been assigned to them. Young Scholars will then be able to provide clarifications and facilitate a deeper understanding of their own work. Thus, a concrete outcome from this experimental panel would be a network of early career researchers working on closely related topics, which can potentially lead to joint research projects and future collaborations.
Accepted contributions
Contribution long abstract
The Political Economy of Financial Intermediation is a process often characterized by self-interested regulators whose decisions are influenced by the banking system as financial intermediation and other constituencies who may have little regard for regulatory policies, and the role of Governments as broader social welfare in fragile countries that need political stability, economic reforms, and economic development policies at the same time. According to the article “Political Economy of Banking ”, the impact of market-based banking on the domestic political economy and the impact of the international financial crisis are discussed. (I.Hardie, S.Maxfield, A.Verdun, 2013).
Furthermore, according to the IMF, “financial intermediation levels in the Western Balkans are relatively low because they reflect in part low incomes in the region.” Also, the analysis of the risk of loans and borrowing by fragile states, and if there is a correlation between the political stability (political system, laws, and government), the banking system (low rates, savings, monetary factors, and investment), and economic development (business, and financial Institutions created by Government laws and industry).
Results of study shows, the financial systems tend to fail if there is excessive inflation in the economy and the banking system should maintain an equilibrium in periods of financial crises in countries, for example in fragile states such as Western Balkan countries need a lot of reforms (financial laws, taxation, and regulatory laws regarding in bankrupting levels) also, reforms in economic development in a manner to maintain a stable relationship with a banking system and EU integration Reforms.
Contribution short abstract
The Mekong faces climate vulnerability and geopolitical tensions, with competing development visions reshaping livelihoods. Our paper analyses how climate justice discourses, from “green growth” to resilience, are contested, mapping power asymmetries and marginalised communities’ resistance.
Contribution long abstract
The Mekong Region stands at the crossroads of climate vulnerability, energy transition, and geopolitical contestation. Competing visions of development advanced by state, military, corporate, and civil society actors reshape livelihoods, resource governance, and regional cooperation across the region. This paper examines how climate justice in the Mekong is negotiated through both governance structures and the narratives that legitimise them, with particular attention to energy transition in the era of the critical minerals rush. Employing a mixed qualitative approach, the paper integrates key stakeholder mapping with discourse analysis. First, it maps key stakeholder and power asymmetries in climate and energy decision-making, highlighting how authority is distributed across national institutions, regional bodies, corporate actors, and local communities. Second, it examines dominant and countervailing narratives of energy transition such as “green growth,” low-carbon development, and sustainability to analyse how these discourses frame policy priorities, justify extractive practices, and shape what forms of development are rendered politically feasible. Bringing these analytical layers together, the paper shows how governance arrangements and discursive framings mutually reinforce one another in the context of the Mekong’s energy transition. Narratives of a necessary and inevitable green transition are mobilised to legitimise expanded extraction of critical minerals. We argue that climate justice in the Mekong requires addressing not only the material impacts of energy and infrastructure development, but also the narrative and institutional conditions through which costs and benefits are unevenly distributed. Putting affected communities centre, the paper explores alternative futures grounded in participatory governance and cross-border solidarity.
Contribution short abstract
This paper examines green development paths for the Global South amid inequality and climate constraints. Using OECD data, it argues for technology and finance transfers from the Global North and for progressive taxes and subsidies within the Global South to address inequality and climate risks.
Contribution long abstract
Ever since the 1960s, there has been a rise of neo-liberal capitalism, characterised by lesser and lesser government restriction on the climate. This has also been characterized by stagnancy of wages while profits have boomed. The emergence of China as a significant world actor since the 1980s have threatened the status quo and the USA. But all of this is happening in a world which faces the threat of climate change. Thus, the question arises regarding the development of global south in a world with a fixed carbon budget.
This paper explores the debates regarding the development path that the global south must take to ensure a green development path. The global north must aid the green development in the global south through the transfer of technology and finances, in light of the carbon space left for global south. Global south itself is characterised by high level of income and wealth inequality. Using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data, this paper explores the transition, in form of tax and subsidy that must place within the global south countries to reimagine a development path that solves the twin problems of inequality and climate change.
Stern (2006) points at the costs of not acting would be much lesser than the cost of adaptation. There exists inequality even in adoption, putting the vulnerable population at a much larger risk. The paper explores a reimagined development that must cater to these inequalities in adoption, through progressive taxations and redistributions.
Contribution short abstract
Global bioeconomy agendas often overlook communities and their interests. This paper contributes to reimagining development debates by examining sociobioeconomy as a site where Global South agency, ecological futures, and sustainability governance paradigms are renegotiated.
Contribution long abstract
Recent sustainability and development agendas globally have increasingly adopted the concept of bioeconomy, often without clear definitions or meaningful involvement of the communities whose territories and knowledge they claim to value. Sociobioeconomy has emerged as a key pillar in Brazil’s development and climate strategies, presented as a pathway to reconcile conservation, economic development, and social inclusion, especially in biodiverse territories. This agenda is promoted as a more inclusive model grounded in sociobiodiversity and traditional livelihoods. Against this background, this paper examines the discursive struggles surrounding the construction and promotion of sociobioeconomy in Brazil and its projection into global sustainability politics.
It argues that sociobioeconomy operates as a contested arena where state actors, corporations, social movements, and traditional and Indigenous communities negotiate models of development, territorial control, and knowledge hierarchies.
Drawing on critical development studies, political ecology, and international political economy, the study combines document and discourse analysis of national policy frameworks, diplomatic statements, and international interventions with secondary literature and exploratory interviews. It identifies how sociobioeconomy is mobilised in Brazilian development strategies and how it “travels” into multilateral negotiations, South–South cooperation, and green finance agendas. Moreover, it considers the struggles for the adoption of such an agenda based on local territories in a context of power asymmetries, the return of unilateralism, and global disputes.
The paper contributes to debates on reimagining development by examining sociobioeconomy as a site where Global South agency, ecological futures, and development and sustainability governance paradigms are renegotiated.
Contribution short abstract
The paper will contribute to international relations literature by examining the discourse on how political regime change in Bangladesh impacts on navigating geopolitical alignment, economic statecraft regarding managing its economic ties with the USA, China, Japan, and India.
Contribution long abstract
Bangladesh strategically positioned as a nodal hub between South and Southeast Asia, holds strategic importance for key powers such as China, India, Japan, and the USA. As a middle power, Bangladesh strategically balanced the presence of major powers for long time. However, sudden fall of political regime by July revolution 2024 in Bangladesh changed the direction of its foreign policy resulting into geopolitical turbulence and realignment. While India, with historical ties and geographical proximity, played a critical role in trade, security, and regional stability, in the changed political landscape, Bangladesh-India relations deteriorated, on the contrary, China took the opportunity to fill the gap and Bangladesh-China relations improved significantly through various projects and agreements. Bangladesh is increasingly engaging with China on several fronts while its dealing with India is being limited. This is quite evident that Bangladesh is currently facing a geopolitical turbulence in dealing with major powers. Drawing from the literature on middle power and economic statecraft, applying trade, FDI, Official Development Assistance (ODA) and state engagements data from 2010 to 2025, this paper sheds light on how Bangladesh navigates the complex dynamics of global geopolitics as a middle power in South Asia. Bangladesh loses its strategical balances with the change of domestic political regime. The article concludes that, imbalances in Bangladesh’s engagements with these key powers could bring potential security threats as well as economic losses. Bangladesh should leverage and remain on the balanced track without falling into the trap of geopolitics