State Futures in the Global South

This introductory document outlines a foresight-driven research theme titled "State Futures in the Global South," which aims to explore the trajectory of state governance in the Global South over the next twenty years. The research focuses on how states can adapt their structures, processes, and practices to remain resilient and inclusive amidst global disruptions, emphasizing a shift from Global North-centric democratic models toward "accountable governance."

• The research theme employs a foresight-driven approach to analyze state governance in the Global South over a twenty-year horizon, focusing on the structures, processes, and practices used to exercise authority and manage resources.
• The framework challenges the Global North's perspective that governance is a linear progression toward democratic systems, suggesting that many Global South countries instead prioritize the establishment of accountable governance and supporting structures.
• The analysis recognizes that state-building and institutional effectiveness in the Global South have been shaped by historical legacies, including colonialism, structural adjustment programmes, and the influence of bipolar or unipolar systems.
• The research defines the Global South as comprising seven specific regions: Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Latin America and the Caribbean, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia.

APA

Cilliers, J., & van Rooyen, M. (2026). State Futures in the Global South. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=20-futures-of-the-state-in-the-global-south&topic=01-introduction

Chicago

Cilliers, Jakkie, and Michelle van Rooyen. State Futures in the Global South. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=20-futures-of-the-state-in-the-global-south&topic=01-introduction.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cilliers |first1=Jakkie |last2=van Rooyen |first2=Michelle |title=State Futures in the Global South |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=29 March 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=20-futures-of-the-state-in-the-global-south&topic=01-introduction |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cilliers2026state, author = {Cilliers, Jakkie and van Rooyen, Michelle}, title = {{State Futures in the Global South}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=20-futures-of-the-state-in-the-global-south&topic=01-introduction}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }