Ahsan Iqbal challenges liberal democracy at oxford union, wins debate for the global South.

Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, emerged as a leading voice for the Global South at the prestigious Oxford Union, where he passionately challenged the structural inequities embedded within liberal democracy.

Attending the debate titled “Liberal Democracy has Failed the Global South”, hosted by Oxford Union President Israr Kakar, Iqbal argued that liberal democracy, once presented as a model for freedom and prosperity, has instead perpetuated economic dependency, political instability, and climate injustice for developing nations.

In his address, he highlighted the hypocrisy of powerful nations that defend oppression by their allies while condemning resistance from the oppressed. He criticized global institutions for maintaining economic servitude in the Global South and pointed to financial structures, trade barriers, and debt traps imposed by the Global North.

Quoting Jason Heichel’s book The Divide, Iqbal revealed that for every $1 in aid received by the Global South, $14 is lost through exploitative financial mechanisms. He condemned the monopolization of COVID-19 vaccines by Western corporations, which led to 1.3 million preventable deaths in the Global South.

On climate justice, he underscored that while the Global North is responsible for over 80% of historical carbon emissions, it is the Global South that suffers the consequences. Using Pakistan’s 2022 floods as an example, he criticized the West for offering loans instead of grants, forcing Pakistan to finance its own recovery from a crisis it did not create.

Despite the challenging nature of Oxford’s debating forums, Iqbal dismantled the myths of liberal democracy with evidence-based arguments. He called for a global reset, urging an inclusive and participatory world order that empowers people rather than power lobbies.

The debate concluded with a resounding victory for Iqbal’s stance, securing 180 votes in favor against 145 for the opposition, marking a significant intellectual win for Pakistan and the Global South.