Ahsan Iqbal wins Oxford Union Debate with 180 votes

Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Friday emerged as a leading voice for the Global South, in a historic debate at the prestigious Oxford Union, challenging the structural inequities embedded within liberal democracy.The minister attended the Oxford Union Debate titled “Liberal Democracy has Failed the Global South” at the invitation by the President of the Oxford Union, Israr Kakar.Iqbal passionately articulated how liberal democracy has failed the developing world, exposing the double standards and systemic oppression that continue to hinder economic justice, political sovereignty, and climate equity for nations of the Global South.Proposing the Resolution at the House, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal argued that Liberal democracy was sold as a golden ticket to freedom, prosperity, and justice—a model crafted in the grand halls of the Global North and imposed on the streets and fields of the Global South. .”We were told it would elevate nations, safeguard rights, and unlock economic opportunity. Instead, it delivered debt traps, political instability, and broken promises”, he said.Citing few examples from the history Ahsan Iqbal argued that liberal democracy has consistently failed to achieve the key objectives it has been aspiring for, globally.He questioned how powerful nations defend their allies’ oppression while condemning resistance from the oppressed—a contradiction that exposes the inherent bias within the system.He further argued that post-World War II global institutions were never designed to empower the Global South but rather to control it through economic dependency and geopolitical manipulation.Citing the collapse of the USSR as an event that was wrongly celebrated as a victory for liberal democracy, he pointed out that three decades later, the Global South remains entrapped in poverty, political suppression, and economic servitude—a direct result of rigged financial structures. , trade barriers, and debt traps imposed by the Global North.Citing Jason Heichel’s book The Divide, Ahsan Iqbal revealed a stark reality: for every $1 in aid received by the Global South, it loses $14 through exploitative financial mechanisms such as debt repayment and profit repatriation.He called out the injustice of intellectual property laws, which enabled the West to monopolize COVID-19 vaccines, leading to 1.3 million preventable deaths in the Global South, as critical medical patents were blocked in the name of corporate profits.Highlighting the climate injustice perpetuated by liberal democracies, Minister Iqbal reminded the audience that while the Global North contributes over 80% of historical carbon emissions, it is the Global South that pays the highest price.He pointed to Pakistan’s 2022 climate catastrophe, where devastating floods caused $30 billion in damages, yet the so-called champions of democracy offered loans instead of grants, effectively forcing Pakistan to finance its own destruction.He expressed dismay at the harsh reality where the promises of sustainable development have led to floods, droughts, and broken commitments, leaving developing nations to struggle while powerful states continue their exploitation unchecked.Despite the historically challenging nature of Oxford’s debating forums, where even seasoned political figures struggle to gain consensus, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal convincingly dismantled the illusions of liberal democracy and won the debate on intellectual merit and evidence-based argumentation.He urged the House that it was the time for a reset, to free democracy from the clutches of power lobbies in the name of liberal democracy. He called for giving back to the people the right to choose their destiny to make global order just, inclusive and participatory.The debate concluded with Prof. Iqbal’s stance gaining 180 votes in favor, while the opposition secured 145 votes, marking a remarkable victory for Pakistan and the Global South on an international platform.