Transformative Global Governance Led by Non-Western Small and Middle Powers: The Cases of Qatar and South Africa in Pursuing Peace and Justice in a Fractured World

The attacks of October 7, 2023, and Israel’s genocide in Gaza have triggered one of the most significant geopolitical crises in decades. The scale of destruction, civilian targeting, and failure of the international system to prevent mass atrocities expose deep fractures in the post-WWII rules-based order. This research argues that Gaza represents not just a humanitarian or regional crisis, but a “critical juncture” that opens space for alternative paths in global governance. The proposal advances a framework of “transformative global governance,” focused on structural justice, historical redress, and plural agency. Rooted in Global South perspectives, it moves beyond North–South divides by analysing the roles of non-Western small and middle powers—specifically Qatar and South Africa. Unlike China or India who are bound by traditional power politics, Qatar and South Africa offer innovative norm-shaping interventions based on Islamic ethics and international law. By comparing the roles of Qatar and South Africa in the Gaza crisis and examining AI’s impact on the conflict, we explore how non-Western actors shape emerging norms and strategies, signalling a shift towards a more multipolar, justice-centred global order.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)